Novartis and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have launched a long-term research collaboration aimed at transforming the way pharmaceuticals are produced. The 10-year partnership, known as the Novartis-MIT Center for Continuous Manufacturing, will work to develop new technologies that could replace the conventional batch-based system in the pharmaceuticals industry - which often includes many interruptions and work at separate sites - with continuous manufacturing processes from start to finish.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) announced that it has finalized a civil settlement agreement with the United States Department of Justice ("DOJ") and the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts resolving the previously disclosed investigations that began several years ago involving the company's drug pricing, and sales and marketing activities.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced its official sponsorship of Berlin Marathon 2007 to be held on Sunday September 30, which will expand Takeda's support for marathon to Europe, as Takeda has been sponsoring Hokkaido Marathon in Japan for 13 years while started its sponsorship for The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon last year.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT), a leader in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, has received the 2007 Galen Prize for Best Biotechnology Product for HUMIRA (R) (adalimumab), the first approved fully human antibody. HUMIRA is approved for use in the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and moderate to severe Crohn's disease.

Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, and Genzyme Corporation, USA, today announced that the first patient has been treated in the first of two planned Phase 3 trials examining the safety and efficacy of alemtuzumab for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Preliminary results from a new Phase II study provide data on the anti-tumor activity and tolerability of sunitinib malate in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Additionally, data from phase I studies provide information on the tolerability and safety of sunitinib malate in combination with current standard of care chemotherapies in the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) and advanced breast cancer.

Bayer Schering Pharma AG announces the kick-start of the TALENT study, a multicenter "STudy EvALuating the Efficacy of Nifedipine GITS - Telmisartan Combination in Blood Pressure Control", which will examine two of its major antihypertensive brands in combination with each other.