Data published in The Lancet from ABSORB, the world's first clinical trial of a fully bioabsorbable drug eluting stent for the treatment of coronary artery disease, demonstrated no stent thrombosis, no clinically driven target lesion revascularizations (retreatment of a diseased lesion), and a low (3.3 percent) rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in 30 patients out to one year.

AstraZeneca announced a trial date has been set for patent litigation in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Sandoz, Inc. alleging infringement of AstraZeneca's patent as a result of Teva's and Sandoz's filings of Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs).

Women may reduce the risk of their breast cancer returning by starting treatment with Femara® (letrozole) anywhere from one to seven years after finishing tamoxifen therapy, according to a new analysis published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology[1].

Nycomed and Cadila Healthcare have signed a letter agreement with the intent to amend their existing joint venture agreement to include the chemical production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) by the joint venture company Zydus Nycomed in India. Based on this agreement, Nycomed plans to transfer the current chemical production from the sites in Linz (Austria) and Singen (Germany) to the new joint venture within the next three to four years.

Baxter International Inc. and The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter, today announced their combined 2007 charitable giving, which focused on increasing access to healthcare, helping developing nations and countries in crisis, and addressing other critical community needs.

In 2007 Nycomed increased adjusted EBITDA by 31.0% compared to last year to a total of € 1,222.2 million. The strong performance was accompanied in the fourth quarter by major advancements in the US out-licensing efforts that materialised in early 2008. The full year results benefited from increased sales, especially from high-margin products as well as a significant reduction in costs.

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated safety information, including an updated boxed warning in the labeling information for the class of drugs known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), including Aranesp(R) (darbepoetin alfa) and EPOGEN(R) (Epoetin alfa).