Researchers from the US and Japan have described how somatic cells can be transformed into an embryonic state by the application of external stimuli. The technique, reported in Nature, does not involve an embryo or genetic reprogramming.
Novo Nordisk A/S reported 7% gains in both sales and operating profit in 2013, while net profit powered ahead by 18%, prompting directors of the Danish company to vote a 25% dividend increase. Sales for the year were DKK 83.6 billion ($15.1 billion) and operating profit reached DKK 31.5 billion.
Janssen Research and Development LLC is to allow healthcare professionals and researchers access to anonymised data from its clinical trials, under an agreement negotiated with the Yale School of Medicine in the US.
The US affiliate of Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH is to start work with Duke University in North Carolina to study the natural history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a disease which is characterised by inflammation and the scarring of lung tissue.
AstraZeneca Plc has entered into a licensing and collaboration agreement with two leading Belgian research institutes to explore the potential of inhibiting the MALT1 protein in the treatment of auto-immune disorders and certain cancers.
The Roche group achieved an increase in group sales of 3% to CHF 46.8 billion in 2013 and a rise in its core operating profit of 4% to CHF 17.9 billion reflecting the strong performance of its biologic medicines for cancer, immunology and ophthalmology.
Novartis has increased its annual dividend by 7% and continued to take steps to improve productivity as group net sales rose by 2% to $57.9 billion in 2013 but operating income declined by 3% to $10.9 billion. Sales of pharmaceuticals were flat.
Cytos Biotechnology AG of Switzerland said an influenza vaccine that it is co-developing with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research has met its primary endpoint for immunogenicity in a Phase 1 study in Asian volunteers.
Germany-based Medigene AG, which has a long history in oncology drug discovery, has acquired Trianta Immunotherapies GmbH of Munich, a spin-out with three T cell immunotherapy technologies. The value of the deal is €4 million plus milestones.
The European Medicines Agency’s main scientific committee has given a positive opinion to a new drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline Plc for people with Type 2 diabetes. The drug, albiglutide, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist.