AstraZeneca today announced it has entered into a settlement agreement in its Nexium patent infringement litigation against Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. and its affiliates ("Ranbaxy").

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd (NYSE:RDY) announced that it has acquired Jet Generici Srl, a company engaged in the sale of generic finished dosages in Italy. The deal has been completed via Dr Reddy's Italian subsidiary, Reddy Pharma Italia SpA, which has been engaged in building a pipeline of registrations since its incorporation.

Novartis has reached an agreement with Nestlé S.A. providing the right to acquire majority ownership of Alcon Inc. (NYSE: ACL) in two steps and add the world leader in eye care to its diversified portfolio focused on growth areas of healthcare.

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rotarix® [Rotavirus Vaccine, live, oral] for the prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants. Rotarix will offer protection against the most commonly circulating rotavirus types in the U.S. and allow infants to complete the vaccination series by four months of age.

Clinical laboratory professionals worldwide are coming together in support of an initiative to raise international awareness of the role played by clinical laboratory professionals in health care and their vital contribution to improve patient outcomes. Through a program called Labs Are Vital(TM), sponsored by Abbott (NYSE: ABT), the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) and its 76 national societies are working together to elevate the role of laboratory professionals and to address issues facing the profession globally.

Pfizer announced that Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) 80 mg showed unexpectedly potent reduction in myocardial ischemia (a condition defined by insufficient blood supply and oxygen to the heart) in patients with chronic stable angina (chest pain). These results were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.

Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) announced that Explorer Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pfizer, has purchased all of the shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to its tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ENCY) at a purchase price of $2.35 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon and less any required withholding taxes.