Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) announced updated results from a Phase 2 study that showed treatment with blinatumomab (AMG 103) helped achieve a high-rate of complete response (CR) in 72 percent of adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated in the study.

The Merck Group's first-quarter 2012 total revenues rose 3.2% to € 2,645 million compared to € 2,564 million in the first quarter of 2011. Sales for the Group increased 3.5% to € 2,564 million in first quarter compared to € 2,478 million in the year-ago quarter.

Pfizer Inc announced that the Phase 3 INTORSECT (B1771003) study, evaluating TORISEL® (temsirolimus) in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) whose disease had progressed on or after SUTENT® (sunitinib malate) therapy, did not meet the primary endpoint of prolonging progression free survival (PFS) when compared to sorafenib.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) generally approves drug therapies faster and earlier than its counterparts in Canada and Europe, according to a new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers. The study counters perceptions that the drug approval process in the United States is especially slow.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) has entered into an agreement to acquire those shares it does not currently own in Cellzome, a leader in the development and advancement of proteomics technologies, for £61 million (US$99 million) in cash.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation today announced the expansion of its Together on Diabetes® initiative to China and India, pledging $15 million over five years to help these developing nations with rapidly growing numbers of type 2 diabetes patients.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and Tsinghua University of Beijing, China, today announced the formation of a multi-year strategic partnership. Under the agreement, Bristol-Myers Squibb will fund research efforts at Tsinghua University's School of Life Sciences to identify and validate novel targets in oncology and immunoscience.

A new study has found that, contrary to current thinking, taking beta blockers that treat high blood pressure does not decrease a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study also revealed that even long-term use or subtypes of beta blockers showed no reduction of colorectal cancer risk.

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) today announced positive top-line results from three recently completed phase III clinical studies of Lu AA21004, an investigational drug for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) using dosages from 10 to 20mg.

Neuroscientist Patrik Verstreken, associated with VIB and KU Leuven, succeeded in undoing the effect of one of the genetic defects that leads to Parkinson's using vitamin K2. His discovery gives hope to Parkinson's patients.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting health care professionals and patients about injuries and death associated with the use of an experimental procedure sometimes called "liberation therapy" or the "liberation procedure" to treat chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI).

GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE: GSK) today announced that it has commenced its previously announced tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Human Genome Sciences (NASDAQ: HGSI) for US$13.00 per share in cash.

The Cancer Support Community (CSC) and the Amgen Foundation, today announced the launch of Open to Options", a program designed to bridge the communications gap between physicians and patients and inspire patient confidence in making treatment decisions.

University of British Columbia researchers have found a potential way to develop universal flu vaccines and eliminate the need for seasonal flu vaccinations. Each year, seasonal influenza causes serious illnesses in three to five million people and 200,000 to 500,000 deaths.

A new study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers has found that a subclass of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol, may not protect against coronary heart disease (CHD) and in fact may be harmful.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that the SUMMACTA study met its primary endpoint, showing comparable efficacy of the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of RoACTEMRA (tocilizumab, known as ACTEMRA outside Europe) 162mg weekly compared to 8 mg/kg RoACTEMRA intravenous (IV) formulation every 4 weeks.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Action Pharma A/S, a privately owned company, announced that they have entered into an agreement in which Abbott will acquire AP214 from Action Pharma. AP214 is in development to prevent acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with major cardiac surgery in patients at increased risk and has further potential in adjacent indications.

Novartis has signed a definitive agreement to acquire specialty dermatology generics company Fougera Pharmaceuticals. Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will acquire the business, which is based in Melville, New York, for USD 1.525 billion in an all-cash transaction.

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Yale University have established a drug discovery research collaboration to design a potential new class of medicines that degrade disease-causing proteins. The collaboration combines GSK's expertise in medicinal chemistry with Yale's pioneering work on proteolysis targeting chimeric molecules or PROTACs.

Current nanomedicine research has focused on the delivery of established and novel therapeutics. But a UNC team is taking a different approach. They developed nanoparticle carriers to successfully deliver therapeutic doses of a cancer drug that had previously failed clinical development due to pharmacologic challenges.