Novartis has entered into a collaboration with Pear Therapeutics to develop novel prescription digital therapeutics, software applications designed to effectively treat disease and improve clinical outcomes for patients. The collaboration brings together Novartis expertise in biomedical research and clinical development with Pear's leading experience in digital therapeutics design and implementation.

AstraZeneca today announced that its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, is spinning out six molecules from its early-stage inflammation and autoimmunity programmes into an independent biotech company, Viela Bio. The new company will focus on developing medicines for severe autoimmune diseases by targeting the underlying causes of each disease.

Boehringer Ingelheim unveils a new phase of "More Than Scleroderma: The Inside Story", and launches the new patient website www.morethanscleroderma.com. The global initiative highlights the importance of understanding the 'inside story' of each individual living with scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis.

Bayer and Loxo Oncology, Inc., (NASDAQ: LOXO), a biopharmaceutical company from Stamford (Connecticut, US) announced the publication in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) of larotrectinib data for the treatment of pediatric and adult patients whose tumors harbor Neurotrophic Tyrosine Receptor Kinase (NTRK) gene fusions.

Novartis today announced the publication of the CLAIM* study in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, which demonstrated that treatment once-daily Ultibro® Breezhaler® (indacaterol/glycopyrronium 110/50 mcg) significantly improved lung and cardiac function, when compared to placebo, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with lung hyperinflation[1].

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and Flatiron Health, Inc. announced that the two partners have signed a definitive agreement under which Roche will acquire all shares of Flatiron Health, following on from an existing equity stake of 12.6%. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2018.

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced ExploreBio, a pre-seed-investment vehicle by four investment funds targeted at early-stage companies in the biotechnology landscape in Israel. For this purpose the strategic corporate venture capital arm of Merck has partnered with Arkin Holdings, Pontifax and WuXi AppTec to create the € 20 million pre-seed investment vehicle.