In a research paper published today by Nature Reviews Drug Discovery(1), AstraZeneca's IMED Biotech Unit documents a more than four-fold improvement in R&D productivity following significant revision of its approach and adoption of a '5R framework' - right target, right patient, right tissue, right safety, right commercial potential.

Sandoz, a Novartis division and the global leader in biosimilars, today announced a global partnership with Asia's premier biopharmaceuticals company, Biocon, to develop, manufacture and commercialize multiple biosimilars in immunology and oncology for patients worldwide.

A report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published in Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety confirms the safety profile and effectiveness of Xarelto® (rivaroxaban) in people with atrial fibrillation (AF). The study is based on electronic healthcare data within the Mini-Sentinel safety programme in the US, reporting data on a large real-world population of over 115,000 people prescribed rivaroxaban or warfarin.

Sandoz, a Novartis division and the global leader in biosimilar medicines, announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its Biologics License Application (BLA), submitted under the 351 (k) pathway, for proposed biosimilar adalimumab to the reference medicine, Humira®*.

Novartis announced today that Elizabeth (Liz) Barrett, currently Global President Oncology at Pfizer, Inc., has been appointed CEO Novartis Oncology and a member of the Executive Committee of Novartis, effective February 1, 2018. She will be based in Basel. Mrs. Barrett succeeds Bruno Strigini who decided to retire from Novartis for personal reasons.

Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) will accelerate and expand investment for the clinical development of the PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) antibody cemiplimab in oncology and dupilumab in Type 2 allergic diseases. Both of these breakthrough therapies have the potential to benefit a number of different patient populations and this strategic investment will enable the companies to evaluate cemiplimab and dupilumab in broad clinical development programs.

Novartis announced today the initiation of SURPASS, a head-to-head clinical trial of Cosentyx® (secukinumab) versus proposed biosimilar adalimumab** in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). SURPASS is the first head-to-head clinical trial in AS investigating superiority of Cosentyx in slowing spinal bone damage versus proposed biosimilar adalimumab**. SURPASS is currently recruiting patients, with the 'first patient first visit' already achieved in November 2017.