On track for solid growth in 2008, Novartis reported higher net sales and double-digit earnings growth in the first quarter of 2008 from the Group's continuing operations now entirely focused on healthcare and reaffirmed its outlook for record sales and earnings for the full year.

Novartis has announced a 20% average reduction in the price of Coartem® tablets (artemether/lumefantrine 20 mg/120 mg), the state-of-the-art artemisinin-based combination treatment (ACT) for malaria. Starting this Friday, which is World Malaria Day, this price reduction will increase access to Coartem for millions of malaria patients, especially children in low income regions of Africa.

The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2008. Financial highlights for the first quarter of 2008:

• Net revenue increased by 19% to $79.4 million for the first quarter of 2008 from $66.6 million for the first quarter of 2007.

Genzyme Corp. (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced today that it will build a major new research and development center in Beijing. The initiative is an important element in Genzyme's ongoing global expansion and commitment to establishing a long-term presence in China.

Protherics PLC, the international biopharmaceutical company focused on critical care and cancer, today announces that its placebo-controlled phase 2b Digoxin Immune Fab (DIF) Efficacy Evaluation in Pre-eclampsia ("DEEP") study in severe pre-eclampsia has met one of its two primary endpoints.

Bayer confirmed that Bayer Schering Pharma AG and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. filed a patent infringement lawsuit in U.S. Federal Court in the Southern District of New York (New York) against Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Watson Laboratories, Inc. and Sandoz, Inc.

The investigational oral therapy FTY720 (fingolimod) continues to demonstrate sustained benefits in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) after three years of treatment, according to new clinical data presented from an ongoing Phase II study extension[1].