AstraZeneca and MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, today announced top-line results from the GALATHEA Phase III trial for Fasenra (benralizumab) in patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The trial did not meet the primary endpoint of a statistically-significant reduction of exacerbations in patients with COPD.

Alcon, the global leader in eye care and a division of Novartis, has announced Alcon Cares Project 100, which aims to reduce cataract blindness by providing equipment to perform phaco surgeries. Alcon Cares, a foundation that oversees equipment and product donations to those in need, will give 100 reprocessed Infiniti units to eligible clinics in Asia, Central and South America, and Africa over the next three years, making it one of the largest eye care equipment donations of its kind.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company's supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) and granted Priority Review for TECENTRIQ® (atezolizumab), in combination with Avastin® (bevacizumab), paclitaxel and carboplatin (chemotherapy), for the initial (first-line) treatment of people with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement with Luye Pharma Group, Ltd. (Luye Pharma) for the sale and licence of the rights to Seroquel and Seroquel XR in the UK, China and other international markets, including Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, Argentina, Malaysia and South Africa.

Within the newly started European research project Hypo-RESOLVE, 23 leading international players from academia, industry and civil society have joined forces to find better solutions to alleviate the burden and consequences of hypoglycaemia in diabetes. Diabetes is a global epidemic, currently affecting around 60 million people in Europe. Hypoglycaemia is a common and serious complication of diabetes, particularly affecting people with diabetes on insulin therapy; very low levels of blood glucose can lead to cognitive decline, cardiovascular events and even death.

Novartis today announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Kymriah® (tisagenlecleucel) suspension for intravenous infusion for its second indication - the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), high grade B-cell lymphoma and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) has announced that in the first three months of 2018, Group sales rose 6% to CHF 13.6 billion. Sales in the Pharmaceuticals Division increased 7% to CHF 10.7 billion. A key growth driver was Ocrevus, used to treat two forms of multiple sclerosis. It continued its strong growth in the US and was launched in Europe and additional countries worldwide during the first quarter.