Novartis has completed the sale of its Gerber baby foods business to Nestlé for USD 5.5 billion, the final step in a divestment program to focus the Group's strategy on healthcare with pharmaceuticals at the core.

GlaxoSmithKline announced that Atriance® (nelarabine solution for infusion) has received approval from the European Commission for the treatment of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) whose disease has not responded to, or has relapsed following, treatment with at least two chemotherapy regimens.[1]

In a new analysis data in the European subgroup of the large clinical study REST (Rotavirus Efficacy and Safety Trial), the five-type rotavirus vaccine RotaTeq® demonstrated 100% clinical efficacy against severe rotavirus disease for the first rotavirus season after vaccination. The efficacy remained high through two rotavirus seasons of follow up, preventing 98% of severe rotavirus cases. This new sub-analysis was presented last week at the 25th International Congress of Paediatrics in Athens.

To help address critical gaps in malaria treatment and education, Pfizer today announced the launch of Mobilize Against Malaria. This three-country initiative comprising Kenya, Ghana and Senegal will be implemented over the course of five years (2007-2011). Pfizer has selected key international and local health experts to develop and implement public health interventions that engage and educate treatment providers and patients in high-risk areas for the effective treatment and management of malaria.

Data presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Korea by Professor Jean-Yves Douillard, Centre Rene Gauducheau, France, Principal Investigator of the INTEREST study, show that patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with the oral anti-cancer drug IRESSA (gefitinib) had equivalent (non-inferior) survival to those treated with intravenous docetaxel. In addition, IRESSA demonstrated a more favourable tolerability profile and superior quality of life for patients versus docetaxel.

An observational study of a large United Kingdom primary care database showed that switching patients from Pfizer's Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) Tablets to simvastatin was associated with a 30 percent increase in the relative risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, strokes and certain types of heart surgeries, or death compared to patients who remained on Lipitor therapy.

Novo Nordisk announced that with effect from 1 January 2008 the company has appointed Martin Soeters to take up the position as senior vice president of Region Europe. Martin Soeters is currently senior vice president of Novo Nordisk North America and president of Novo Nordisk Inc., the company's US affiliate. Martin Soeters will be replaced by Jerzy Gruhn who will take up the position as senior vice president of Novo Nordisk North America from the same date. Jerzy Gruhn is currently vice president of the Europe East region within Region Europe.