Pfizer Inc announced that it has entered into an agreement with generics manufacturer Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. of India and certain of its affiliates to settle substantially all their patent litigation worldwide involving Lipitor, the world’s most-prescribed cholesterol-lowering medicine.

Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced that it has submitted marketing applications in both the United States and the European Union for Mozobil™ (plerixafor), a product candidate intended to enhance mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells for collection and subsequent autologous transplantation in patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

AstraZeneca and Columbia University Medical Center in New York announced that they have entered into a strategic research collaboration in metabolic related diseases, to develop novel therapeutics primarily in type 2 diabetes and obesity and, with a secondary focus on atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)/dyslipidaemia (abnormal blood lipid levels).

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) announced updated results from the ongoing, open-label extension study on the long-term safety and efficacy of romiplostim in adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a chronic and serious autoimmune disorder characterized by low platelet counts in the blood.

This summer, Maria Machado, a supply chain expert from Brazil, will make an extended visit to Africa – unlike any trip she’s taken before. Maria and 15 of her colleagues at Pfizer, Inc. are part of a now 5-year-old skills-based corporate volunteerism program, the Pfizer Global Health Fellows.

Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) announced that it has completed the acquisition of all remaining outstanding shares of common stock of Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ENCY) through a merger of Pfizer’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Explorer Acquisition Corp., with and into Encysive. Encysive is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pfizer.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate) for routine use within the National Health Service (NHS) of Scotland for its currently licensed indication: the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in adults who have undergone total hip or knee replacement surgery.