Novartis confirms sales will be flat in 2013

Novartis has confirmed that sales will be flat this year as the loss of revenue from generic competition offsets growth from its patent-protected portfolio. The revenue impact of generic competition is expected to be about $3.5 billion.

Country: Switzerland

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Patent expiries weigh on AstraZeneca

The loss of patents on big revenue-generating medicines continued to weigh on AstraZeneca Plc as first-quarter revenue declined by 12% at constant exchange rates to $6.4 billion and core operating profit declined by 21% to $2.3 billion. The company expects that revenue for the year as a whole will decline by a mid-to-high single digit percentage.

Country: United Kingdom

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GSK confirms sales forecast for 2013

GlaxoSmithKline Plc said it expects sales to grow by around 1% at constant exchange rates this year, despite a first-quarter outturn in which both turnover and operating profit declined. The quarterly performance was affected by one-off developments including the divestment of the group’s non-core over-the-counter medicines.

Country: United Kingdom

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Therapeutic vaccine for papillomavirus get funding

A therapeutic vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) that is being developed by Genticel SA of France has received backing by a syndicate led by Wellington Partners, raising €18.2 million in new capital.

Country: France

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Scripps scientists make new stem cell discovery

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California have discovered an antibody that can trigger the transformation of bone marrow stem cells directly into brain cells – something that reportedly has not been done before.

Country: United States

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TiGenix reports on cell therapy trial in RA

TiGenix NV has reported that a Phase 2a study of its allogeneic stem cell therapy in patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis had positive six-month safety data. The trial enrolled patients who had failed to respond to at least two biologic therapies.

Country: Belgium

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Curetis raises €12.5 million in Series B round

The German molecular diagnostics company, Curetis AG, has raised €12.5 million in a Series B round to further test and commercialise its technology for detecting antibiotic resistant bacteria. The round was led by HBM Partners of Switzerland.

Country: Germany

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Elan rejects Royalty takeover bid

The Board of Directors of Elan Corporation Plc has formally rejected an unsolicited takeover bid from the US investment group, Royalty Pharma, saying it substantially undervalues the company. This follows a low turnout in a share buyback.

Country: Ireland

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Gene sequencing receives another boost

The importance of next-generation gene sequencing technologies has been underscored once again with Thermo Fisher Scientific’s announcement of plans to acquire Life Technologies Corp for $13.6 billion.

Country: United States

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Outcome of Royalty Pharma’s bid for Elan Corp remains uncertain

Shareholders of Elan Corporation Plc appear to have rebuffed an unsolicited takeover bid from the US financial group, Royalty Pharma, which valued the Ireland-based company at up to $12 per share for a total enterprise value of up to $7.3 billion.

Country: Ireland

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