Business & Industry News Channel
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is closely monitoring the situation regarding the emergence of a new influenza A (H1N1) strain in Mexico, the United States of America, Canada, France, Spain and New Zealand. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern and they have raised their level of influenza surveillance globally.
Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) has reported financial results for first-quarter 2009. Revenues were $10.9 billion, a decrease of 8% compared with the year-ago quarter. Foreign exchange unfavorably impacted revenues by approximately $640 million or 5%. For first-quarter 2009, U.S. revenues were $5.0 billion, a decrease of 10% compared with the year-ago quarter. 
All in all, the Merck Group performed solidly during the first quarter of 2009. However, Merck is not an island. The recession is affecting the company's results, mainly in the Chemicals business sector. In addition, this year's first quarter is compared to a very strong first quarter in 2008.
AstraZeneca announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the scientific advisory committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), has issued a positive opinion supporting approval of the targeted oral anti-cancer drug, IRESSA (gefitinib).
Pharmaceuticals delivers strong underlying growth in first quarter of 2009 as Novartis continues to rejuvenate product portfolio. Group's strong operational performance led by Pharmaceuticals net sales growth of 12% in local currencies on rapid expansion of recently launched products.
Nycomed's Instanyl (intranasal fentanyl spray) received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency's (EMEA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation. Instanyl is aimed at managing breakthrough pain in adult cancer patients already receiving maintenance opioid therapy for chronic pain. If approved, Nycomed intends to launch the product in 2009.
Pfizer Regenerative Medicine today announced that it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with University College London focused on gaining better understanding into how to develop stem cell-based therapies for certain ophthalmic conditions. The Pfizer/UCL collaboration brings together the pioneering work of university researchers in the field of cell-based therapies and Pfizer's expertise in the design and delivery of therapeutics.