News

Elan Corporation Plc was able to increase sales and strengthen its balance sheet in 2010 as the result of strong demand for its antibody treatment for multiple sclerosis, Tysabri (natalizumab).

Crucell NV, the Dutch developer of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines that Johnson & Johnson is seeking to acquire, has reported a 2010 operating loss on write-downs relating to a manufacturing problem.

AstraZeneca Plc said it is stopping a Phase 3 trial of zibotentan, an endothelin-A receptor antagonist, as a monotherapy against non-metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer. However a trial of the drug, with chemotherapy, will continue.

Cellnovo Ltd of the UK, the developer of a diabetes pump management system, has raised £30 million in a Series B financing round from a group of international investors led by Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners of Paris, France.

Eli Lilly and Company has entered into a three-year research agreement with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to explore a new strategy for regenerating beta cells in people with Type 1 diabetes.

Merck & Co Inc has ended its multi-year drug-target discovery alliances with Galápagos NV of Belgium citing changes in its corporate strategy. It will pay Galápagos €12 million for work completed in 2010.

Phase 3 trial results of a new antibiotic for infections from C. difficile have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The antibiotic, fidaxomicin, showed lower recurrence rates and better cure rates compared with vancomycin.

Following a decline in 2010 net profit of 67%, GlaxoSmithKline Plc acted to support shareholder confidence by raising its dividend by 7% for the year and to launching a new long-term share repurchase programme that could see it buy back between £1 and 2 billion worth of its shares in 2011.

Group sales at Roche were flat in 2010 reflecting a decline in influenza product sales and the impact of lower US and European healthcare spending. Restructuring measures cost the company CHF 1.3 billion (€1 billion) last year.

Novo Nordisk A/S’s comprehensive diabetes franchise continued to flourish in 2010 with sales of diabetes products rising by 21.9% to DKK 45,710 million (€6,132 million), the company announced.