Results from an analysis of Bayer's XANTUS programme were recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC)(1). The data confirm the safety profile of the oral Factor Xa inhibitor Xarelto® (rivaroxaban) in routine clinical practice. The analysis highlighted low bleeding and low stroke rates in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with Xarelto, as well as low rates of treatment discontinuation.

Bayer and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard announced the launch of the joint Precision Cardiology Laboratory, which will pursue novel scientific insights to enable the development of new therapies for patients with cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure. Heart failure - a general diagnosis given when the heart doesn’t pump effectively - is a composite of multiple factors, and as such requires new tools and methods to gain deeper knowledge to benefit patients.

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announces the launch of the new online portal fertility.com. Fertility.com is the entrance to access two unique and bespoke portals:

• Fertility.com/hcp; developed for fertility Healthcare Professionals (HCPs)
• Fertility.com/support; created for women, men and couples who are looking for information about fertility and/or are undergoing fertility treatment

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Foundation Medicine, Inc. (NASDAQ: FMI) at a price of US$ 137.00 per share. The tender offer is being made pursuant to the previously announced merger agreement dated as of 18 June 2018 among Foundation Medicine, Inc., Roche Holdings, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Roche Holding Ltd, and 062018 Merger Subsidiary, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Roche Holdings, Inc.

Novartis and the European Migraine and Headache Alliance (EMHA) announced initial findings from the largest global migraine patient study to date, involving over 11,000 people from 31 countries. Migraine is a neurological disease which can vary in severity with symptoms ranging from head pain, nausea, vomiting to sensitivity to light.

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced that the results of two open-label extension (OLE) studies of AimovigTM (erenumab-aooe) in patients with chronic and episodic migraine, respectively, will be presented at the 60th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society (AHS) in San Francisco. Results from a one-year study in chronic migraine patients reinforced the established safety and efficacy profile of Aimovig in long-term use.

Novartis announced today the publication of global Clear about Psoriasis survey data in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology[1]. The publication highlights that despite clear or almost clear skin being more achievable than ever before, patients may face a long journey to attain this reality[1].