Avastin receives EU approval for the treatment of women with newly diagnosed, advanced ovarian cancer
Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that the European Commission has approved Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with standard chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) as a front-line (first-line following surgery) treatment for women with advanced ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most deadly of the gynaecological cancers, with approximately 220,000 women diagnosed and 140,000 women dying from the disease each year globally. 
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced the initiation of ESPRIT I, a first-of-its-kind clinical trial in Europe evaluating the safety and performance of the novel Esprit(TM) drug eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) for the treatment of blockages in the superficial femoral arteries (SFA) and iliac arteries that have resulted in claudication (leg pain upon walking). Claudication is the most common symptom in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), and is associated with diminished physical activity and poor quality of life for patients. 
A wide range of compounds will be made available free of charge to UK medical researchers next year, following a landmark agreement between the Medical Research Council (MRC) and AstraZeneca. In a new type of collaboration, academia will be granted access to 22 compounds, developed by AstraZeneca. Through MRC funding, UK academia will conduct studies to better understand what drives a range of diseases with a view to exploring new treatment opportunities. 
Boehringer Ingelheim announced that Actilyse® has been approved through a mutual recognition procedure for15 European countries* for thrombolytic treatment of acute ischaemic stroke up to 4.5 hours of onset of stroke symptoms and after prior exclusion of intracranial haemorrhage. This regulatory milestone was communicated by the reference member state Germany and will result in subsequent national approvals of the extended indication in the respective countries of the EU covered by the procedure. The national product informations will be amended accordingly. 
Today a panel of experts in media, technology and healthcare are gathering to discuss the topic "New media - drivers of democratization and development?" at the 2011 Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD) symposium in Basel, Switzerland. They are exploring the ways that modern telecommunications technology has the power to transform the developing world - and how these technologies can specifically be harnessed to help improve access to healthcare.