Immune-boosting effect of Pegasys provides patients with the chance for a clinical cure
New data presented today showed that, for the first time, doctors can predict which hepatitis B patients treated with Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) have the highest chance to achieve a positive treatment outcome-and even a clinical cure(1,2). The study results represent an important step forward, as some patients will now be able to feel confident during their Pegasys treatment about the likelihood of beating the disease. 
Novartis has gained the exclusive worldwide rights to elinogrel, a promising anti-clotting agent in Phase II clinical trials that has shown potential to offer clinical improvements over current anti-clotting medications in helping patients avoid heart attacks and strokes.
Bayer Schering Pharma AG, the pharmaceutical division of Bayer HealthCare (BHC), announced today that it will be
strengthening its global Research and Development (R&D) capabilities through the foundation of a global R&D center in Beijing, China. The company will invest some 100 million Euro over the next five years to establish the center. 
Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) has announced solid fourth-quarter revenue and earnings growth and provided guidance for 2009 that underscored its positive outlook for the year. GAAP net income rose to $86.7 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared with $78.9 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the prior fourth quarter. Non-GAAP net income increased 16 percent to $288.5 million compared with $249.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. 
Schering-Plough announces an investment in early drug discovery technologies supporting Research and Development. Ultra High Throughput Screening (uHTS) capabilities will be established at the SPRI centers in Kenilworth (U.S.), Newhouse (Scotland) and Oss (the Netherlands) in order to allow discovery of high quality leads from the Schering-Plough compound library.