AstraZeneca announced that it has filed patent infringement actions in United States District Court, District of Delaware, against seven generic drug manufacturers, which have submitted Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) for Crestor™.

Pharmion Corporation (Nasdaq: PHRM) and MethylGene Inc (TSX: MYG) announced maturing data from the Phase 1/2 study investigating the combined use of MGCD0103, a novel, isotype-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, and Vidaza(R) (azacitidine for injection) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals (OncoMed) today announced a worldwide strategic alliance to discover, develop and market novel antibody therapeutics to target cancer stem cells which are believed to play a key role in the establishment, metastasis and recurrence of cancer. The alliance with GSK will be conducted through its Center of Excellencefor External Drug Discovery (CEEDD).

The oral, once-daily, investigational anticoagulant rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) is significantly more effective than enoxaparin, the standard of care, in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery. Data from the RECORD1 study show a 70% relative risk reduction (RRR) for rivaroxaban in total VTE when compared with enoxaparin (p<0.001) and an 88% RRR (p<0.001) in major VTE.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that it had gained approval from the European Commission for a new indication for use in children and infants of its HIV fixed-dose combination medicine, Combivir (lamivudine/3TC and Zidovudine/AZT). Previously, Combivir has only been prescribed for use in adults and children over 12 years of age, the shift to new weight based prescribing will allow Combivir to be used in much younger children.

Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) and Adolor Corporation (Nasdaq: ADLR) announced today an exclusive worldwide collaboration to develop and commercialize novel compounds, ADL5859 and ADL5747, for the treatment of pain. Both compounds are proprietary Delta opioid receptor agonist candidates with the potential to treat a wide range of inflammatory, neuropathic and acute pain conditions.

Merz GmbH & Co. KGaA, based in Frankfurt am Main, was able to continue the dynamic growth of the previous years during their 2006/07 financial year (ending June 30th). Group revenue increased by 12.8% to 535.5 million Euros (previous year: 474.6 million Euros) due to new product introductions and internationally successful marketing and sales measures.