Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BRAFTOVI® (encorafenib) + MEKTOVI® (binimetinib) for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

Bayer AG has opened a new cell therapy production plant in Berkeley, California, USA, to bring cell therapies to patients on a global scale. The USD 250 million investment will support the production of material required for clinical trials and potential commercial launch of BlueRock Therapeutics' bemdaneprocel (BRT-DA01), an investigational cell therapy currently in evaluation for treating Parkinson's Disease.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) will present data across its infectious disease portfolio at the upcoming IDWeek 2023 held in Boston from October 11-15, 2023. Data from 45 abstracts will highlight the advances Pfizer is making in helping prevent and treat certain infectious diseases, particularly respiratory illnesses. This will include research featured in the IDWeek press program assessing the potential public health impact of ABRYSVO™ (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine), the company's bivalent respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F (RSVpreF) vaccine for maternal immunization to protect infants against RSV illness.

Bayer AG has entered into an antibody discovery, option, and license agreement with Twist Bioscience Corporation, a company offering high-quality synthetic DNA using its silicon platform.

The company's "Library of Libraries", a collection of synthetic antibody libraries that harness innovative structural and developability features to cover a wide range of antibody drug targets, is tailored to address specific challenges in antibody discovery.

At an Extraordinary General Meeting, Novartis shareholders approved the proposed 100% Spin-off of Sandoz, the Generics and Biosimilars business of Novartis.

Shareholders also approved an ordinary capital decrease of the share capital of Novartis AG in the amount of the share capital of Sandoz.

Vividion Therapeutics, Inc. (Vividion), announced today that it has initiated dosing of patients in a Phase I oncology clinical trial of its investigational oral Kelch-like ECH Associated Protein 1 (KEAP1) activator, VVD-130037. Vividion is a biopharmaceutical company utilizing novel discovery technologies to unlock high value, traditionally undruggable targets with precision therapeutics for devastating cancers and immune disorders, and a wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG.

GSK and Save the Children have announced today that they are renewing their award-winning partnership for a further five years. GSK will invest £15 million in the partnership with Save the Children and they will work together to increase child vaccination rates, with a focus on reducing the number of 'zero dose' children in Ethiopia and Nigeria.