Prasugrel Receives Positive Opinion from the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (TSE: 4568), and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has issued a positive opinion recommending approval of prasugrel for the prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Novo Nordisk and VLST Corporation, a Seattle-based biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutics for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, today announced that the companies have entered into an exclusive, worldwide collaboration agreement to develop therapeutic targets utilising VLST's technology platform in the fields of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.
AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb have announced expansion of their worldwide collaboration to include the development and commercialisation of dapagliflozin in Japan. Dapagliflozin, one of two investigational drugs under joint development by the companies, is currently being studied in Phase III clinical trials in several countries, including the U.S., to assess its efficacy and safety as a once-daily treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Merck KGaA and its Merck Serono division announced today that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization
for Kuvan® for the treatment of Hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) in phenylketonuria (PKU) or BH4 deficient patients. Kuvan, which had previously received Orphan Medicinal Product designation from the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA), is the first drug approved in Europe for HPA due to PKU or BH4 deficiency.
Prof. Jonathan Knowles, Head of Group Research and member of the Corporate Executive Committee of Roche, will retire from Roche at the end of 2009. During 2009, he will facilitate a smooth transition of his responsibilities to Lee Babiss, Head of Pharma Research and Jean-Jacques Garaud, Head of Pharma Development. 
Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has issued a positive opinion recommending approval of the intravenous (IV) formulation of TEMODAL(R) (temozolomide) as an alternative to the already approved oral form of temozolomide in the EU.