Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ) today reported financial results for the full year and fourth quarter of 2007 and provided an outlook for continued strong growth in 2008 and beyond.

AstraZeneca announced the launch of a new clinical trial, SATURN, designed to measure the impact of CRESTOR™ (rosuvastatin) 40 mg and atorvastatin (Lipitor®) 80 mg on the progression of atherosclerosis in high risk patients. SATURN will compare the effects of these two statins on the ability to decrease progression or induce regression of atherosclerosis, the main cause of cardiovascular disease, following two years of treatment in patients with coronary artery disease.

Bayer HealthCare affiliate MEDRAD, Inc., Warrendale, PA and Possis Medical, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, (Nasdaq: POSS), announced today that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which MEDRAD will acquire Possis Medical in a cash tender offer for US-Dollar 19.50 per share, or a total equity value of approximately US-Dollar 361 million.

The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) announced that its investigational agent, Cleviprex(TM) (clevidipine butyrate injectable emulsion), rapidly achieved and maintained blood pressure control in patients with renal dysfunction (RD) and patients with acute heart failure (AHF), according to two new analyses from the Phase III trial VELOCITY(1) presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Clinical Care Medicine (SCCM).

The Roche Group posted record results in 2007. Group sales were up significantly, advancing 10% in local currencies (10% in Swiss francs; 15% in US dollars) to 46.1 billion Swiss francs. This 4.1 billion Swiss franc rise in full-year sales was all organic growth.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2007 and revised 2008 earnings guidance primarily to reflect the sale of the Medical Imaging business.

Nycomed and its licence holder Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE:WYE), today announced the U.S. launch of an own generic version of PROTONIX® (Pantoprazole) tablets, in response to the at-risk launch of generic Pantoprazole tablets by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. Today's launch terminates the current standstill agreement between Nycomed, Wyeth and Teva.