At the beginning of August, DAIICHI SANKYO DEUTSCHLAND GmbH is planning to take over most of the sales force for primary-care physicians in Germany used by Merck Pharma GmbH and to integrate them into the existing sales structure. The agreement between the German subsidiary of the third-largest Japanese pharmaceutical group and the Darmstadt-based company will affect about 130 employees.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and PDL BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: PDLI) announced an agreement for the global development and commercialization of PDL BioPharma's anti-CS1 antibody, elotuzumab, previously known as HuLuc63, currently in Phase I development for multiple myeloma.

In the first six months of 2008, Nycomed’s adjusted EBITDA increased by 4.9% to € 653.7 million compared to € 623.3 million in the first six months of 2007, benefiting from the cost decreasing effects of last year’s restructuring and as a result of the successful integration.

Roche and Meda, an international specialty pharmaceutical company based in Solna (Stockholm), Sweden, have signed an agreement for the sale of four Roche pharmaceutical products to Meda. The world wide product rights for Marcoumar (Anticoagulant), Torem (Loop diuretic), Tilcotil (painful musculoskeletal disorders) and Aurorix (Depression) are being transferred to Meda for a total amount of 120 million Euros.

AstraZeneca and Abbott announced today that they have entered into an agreement for Abbott to promote AstraZeneca's CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin calcium), a medication used along with diet to reduce high cholesterol.

Net sales for the second quarter of 2008 increased 18 percent to $2,823 million, compared to $2,386 million in the second quarter of 2007. Net income for the second quarter of 2008 totaled $539 million, compared to $515 million for the same period of 2007 (up 5 percent), while diluted earnings per share increased to $0.65 from $0.63 (up 3 percent).

The International Association of Fire Fighters has announced the launch of a new initiative to help fire fighters, family members and friends to quit smoking cigarettes. "Our goal is to help make the IAFF the first smoke-free union," IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said in his address to delegates at the IAFF 49th Convention.