Business & Industry News Channel
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) confirmed that the European Commission has granted Marketing Authorisation to amend the licence for its cervical cancer vaccine, Cervarix®. The approval from the European Commission is important as it recognises the extent of cervical cancer protection demonstrated by Cervarix®, which was not highlighted by the previous indication. 
Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) announced top-line results from a randomized Phase 3 trial evaluating Vectibix(R) (panitumumab) as a first-line treatment in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer. The data showed the addition of Vectibix to platinum-based chemotherapy did not result in a statistically significant improvement in overall survival, the primary endpoint, compared to chemotherapy alone [median 11.1 months versus 9.0 months, hazard ratio 0.87 (95% CI: 0.73, 1.05)]. 
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has reported financial results for second-quarter 2010. Since the acquisition of Wyeth was completed on October 15, 2009, legacy Wyeth products and operations are reflected in the first two quarters of 2010, but not reflected in the first two quarters of 2009. Second-quarter 2010 revenues were $17.3 billion, an increase of 58% compared with $11.0 billion in the year-ago quarter. 
As expected, the net sales of the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim declined in local currency terms (-5.1%) in the first half of 2010. Consolidation in euros produced a fall of –2.8%, due to more favourable currency effects, with total net sales of EUR 6,207 million compared to EUR 6,388 million in the first half of the previous year. 
Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS) announced results of two phase 3 studies of mipomersen in patients who had high cholesterol levels while on maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy. In the study of patients with severe hypercholesterolemia, mipomersen reduced LDL-C, the primary endpoint, by 36 percent compared with a 13 percent increase for placebo. 
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that a Luxembourg incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary of Shire plc will launch a voluntary public takeover offer for all the shares in Movetis NV, the Belgium-based European specialty gastrointestinal (GI) company. Movetis is listed on Euronext and focuses on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative treatments for GI conditions with a high unmet medical need. 
For the fourth time, Roche and the Salzburg Festival have invited 100 students to take part in Roche Continents. Science, music and art students from 43 different countries will be spending a week together in Salzburg discussing creativity in their respective fields of study and uncovering the common ground in what at first glance appear to be very different disciplines. The aim of "Roche Continents", an annual event which first took place in 2007, is to encourage students to try out new and unconventional forms of cooperation while together exploring the notions of creativity and innovation in the arts, music and science. 