Business & Industry News Channel
AstraZeneca has announced top line results from the phase III trial, PLATO (A Study of Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes), which demonstrate that BRILINTA (ticagrelor), the investigational oral antiplatelet treatment for acute coronary syndromes (ACS), has achieved a statistically significant primary efficacy endpoint versus clopidogrel, in the prevention of cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with ACS. 
Nycomed has announced the submission of a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for Daxas® as a once-daily oral treatment for patients with COPD associated with chronic bronchitis. The MAA submission is based on encouraging results from four Phase III trials of Daxas (roflumilast) in the treatment of symptomatic COPD. Two pivotal 12-month studies met their primary endpoints, showing effects on exacerbation rates and pulmonary function (FEV1). 
Glivec® (imatinib)* received approval from the European Commission (EC) to become the first and only treatment available in Europe to reduce the risk of recurrence in adult patients who are at significant risk of relapse following surgery to remove gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).
Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany is starting Phase III with an innovative patch for female contraception that combines low dosed ethinylestradiol and gestodene. Approximately 3300 women will be enrolled into two global studies to evaluate the contraceptive reliability of the patch starting in May 2009. 
Roche confirms that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has requested deployment of the "Rapid Response Stockpile". The stockpile is being deployed to countries in need at the discretion of WHO. The stockpiles includes both the 2 million treatment courses held by the WHO and the 3 million treatment course rapid response stockpile held by Roche.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is committed to supporting governments and health authorities around the world to respond to the emergence of the new influenza A (H1N1) strain. The company has developed a number of potential interventions which it believes may be of value in efforts to reduce the impact and spread of this new influenza virus. These include the antiviral medicine Relenza (zanamivir) and significant vaccine capability and technology, including use of novel adjuvants.
Results from an international, placebo-controlled trial,(1) presented for the first time at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in Seattle, U.S.A. demonstrate that Mirapexin® / Sifrol® (pramipexole) also improves depressive symptoms, a common, disabling non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD), in addition to its established efficacy in treating the motor symptoms of PD.