Novartis announced today new data in 441 Chinese patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis from a Phase III study investigating the efficacy and safety of Cosentyx (secukinumab). The data, part of a broader ongoing 52 week Phase III study in 543 patients, show 97.7% of patients treated with Cosentyx 300mg achieved PASI 75 and 80.9% achieved PASI 90 by week 12, with 87% of patients reaching PASI 90 by week 16.

The fourth winner of the Bayer Thrombosis Research Award has been chosen. The Scientific Committee of the Bayer Science & Education Foundation awarded the EUR 30,000 prize to Dr. Changjun Yin from the Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich in recognition of his research on Atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease (AD) as inflammatory conditions with high risks to develop thrombosis-related diseases.

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) announced that a Delaware jury delivered a verdict in Amgen's favor upholding the validity of two Amgen patents related to PCSK9 antibodies. These patents describe and claim antibodies, like Amgen's innovative Repatha® (evolocumab) product, that bind to a specific region on PCSK9 and reduce LDL-C levels in the body.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and Spark Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCE) have entered into a definitive merger agreement for Roche to fully acquire Spark Therapeutics at a price of US$ 114.50 per share in an all-cash transaction. This corresponds to a total transaction value of approximately US$ 4.3 billion on a fully diluted basis.

The Phase III THEMIS trial met its primary endpoint and demonstrated that Brilinta (ticagrelor), taken in conjunction with aspirin, showed a statistically-significant reduction in a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to aspirin alone.

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN), Cytokinetics, Incorporated (NASDAQ: CYTK) and Servier today announced that METEORIC-HF (Multicenter Exercise Tolerance Evaluation of Omecamtiv Mecarbil Related to Increased Contractility in Heart Failure), the second Phase 3 clinical trial of omecamtiv mecarbil, a novel cardiac myosin activator, is open to enrollment.

Abbott and Novo Nordisk today announced a non-exclusive partnership that will integrate insulin dose data from Novo Nordisk pre-filled and durable connected pens directly into the digital health tools compatible with the FreeStyle Libre system (FreeStyle LibreLink[1] mobile app and LibreView[2] cloud-based system).