Business & Industry News Channel
Bayer HealthCare and the Association of German Medical Journalists (VDMJ) have jointly announced the 2009 Advances in Renal Cancer Journalists’ Award Europe, which will honor journalists who have dealt with the issue of renal cancer in a critical and objective manner. The award, endowed with EUR 7,500, is donated by Bayer HealthCare. Eligible for the award are printed media, radio, television and film reports.
Abbott today announced the successful completion of the tender offer by its wholly owned subsidiary Rainforest Acquisition Inc. to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Advanced Medical Optics (AMO). The tender offer expired at midnight Eastern time on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, and was not extended. 
For Nycomed the twelve months of 2008 have been satisfactory and most of the markets performed well and met expectations. Key products developed strongly, with the exception of Pantoprazole sales in the United States and Canada, which is due to "at-risk" launch and generic competition, respectively. The company's integration restructuring showed its full cost-savings effect in 2008. 
Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) has announced a license agreement between Nobilon, Schering-Plough's human vaccine business unit, and the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide access to pandemic influenza vaccine manufacturing technology to developing countries. Fred Hassan, chairman and CEO, said, "This project demonstrates Schering-Plough's strong commitment to innovation and to providing access to medicines. The avian influenza virus is already affecting several developing countries, making pandemic influenza vaccine preparedness a global health priority. Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has received merger control clearance from the European Commission for its acquisition of Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) through a cash tender offer for the outstanding shares of common stock of AMO. The European Commission approved the transaction without conditions.
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that it has signed an agreement with UCB to acquire the worldwide rights to EQUASYM® IR and XL (methylphenidate hydrochloride) (excluding the USA, Canada and Barbados) used for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Merck KGaA announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended to the European Commission the suspension of the marketing authorization for Raptiva® (efalizumab). Raptiva is currently approved for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis who have failed to respond to, or who have a contraindication to, or are intolerant to certain other systemic therapies.