The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) today published one-year results of the ACUITY trial, which show that acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated with Angiomax(R) (bivalirudin) alone had similar rates of ischemic clinical outcomes compared with a more complicated treatment regimen of heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GP IIb/IIIa).[1]

Novartis has expanded its collaboration with the German biotechnology company MorphoSys to create one of the pharmaceutical industry's most comprehensive alliances focused on the discovery and development of antibody-based biologic therapies, the most successful and fastest growing class of biologics.

Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, has submitted for registration the first combined oral contraceptive product based on estradiol and the progestin dienogest to all Member States of the European Community. The Netherlands will serve as the Reference Member State for the Decentralized Procedure to gain European-wide Marketing Authorization.

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) and Mylan Inc. (NYSE: MYL) announced that Mylan has received an approvable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to its New Drug Application (NDA) for nebivolol (proposed brand name Bystolic(TM)), a novel beta blocker under review for the treatment of hypertension.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA (Merck), announced today that they have entered into an agreement for over-the-counter (OTC) marketing rights for Mevacor® (lovastatin). Under the agreement, GSK will have exclusive rights to market non-prescription Mevacor in the United States. Terms of the agreement are confidential but include milestone and royalty payments from GSK to Merck.

In conjunction with World AIDS Day, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the Magic Johnson Foundation and Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced that Cookie Johnson, wife of Earvin "Magic" Johnson will be touring throughout the country in 2008 to educate women on HIV/AIDS. Earvin "Magic" Johnson will continue to be the primary ambassador for the "I Stand With Magic" program to inform people about the disease, encourage people to get tested and if necessary, seek treatment for HIV if they are HIV positive.

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and H. Lundbeck A/S today announced preliminary top-line results from a phase III study of Lexapro® (escitalopram oxalate) in the treatment of adolescents, aged 12-17, with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). These results indicate that patients treated with Lexapro® experienced statistically significant improvement in symptoms of depression, as measured by the study's primary endpoint, the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R), compared to placebo.