MabThera approved in Europe for use in patients with previously-treated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that the European Commission has approved MabThera (rituximab) for use in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), the most common form of the disease in adults. The approval is supported by the impressive results from REACH, the largest randomised clinical trial ever reported in previously-treated CLL. Physicians can now prescribe MabThera in combination with chemotherapy to patients who have been treated for the disease but whose cancer has returned or who have not responded appropriately to therapy. 
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Visiogen, Inc. for $400 million in cash, providing the company with a next-generation accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) technology to address presbyopia for cataract patients.
Boehringer Ingelheim has announced data from the landmark RE-LY® study - the largest atrial fibrillation (AF) outcomes trial ever conducted (18,113 patients in 44 countries worldwide) - presented for the first time at the European Society of Cardiology Congress and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.(1) 
Bayer Schering Pharma has completed patient enrollment into the Phase III ROCKET AF study (Rivaroxaban Once daily oral direct Factor Xa inhibition Compared with vitamin K antagonism for prevention of stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation). The ROCKET AF study is assessing the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) 20 mg once-daily, a novel oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor, compared to the current standard of care, warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) dose-adjusted, for the prevention of stroke and non-CNS systemic embolism in patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF).
AstraZeneca has announced results from the phase III head to head trial, PLATO (A Study of Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes), which demonstrate that ticagrelor (BRILINTA™) has achieved greater efficacy in the primary endpoint, reduction of cardiovascular events (CV death, MI, stroke) over clopidogrel (Plavix®/Iscover®) (9.8% vs. 11.7% at 12 months; 16% RRR; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.92; p 
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, has entered into a research-based collaboration with Santaris Pharma A/S, a leading player in RNA-based therapeutics, to develop its proprietary Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) technology in a range of rare diseases, thereby enabling Shire to build on its already strong competitive position for its Human Genetic Therapies (HGT) business. LNA technology has the benefit of a very quick validated target to proof of concept turnaround, thereby increasing the speed and lowering the cost of development.
Today, Novartis highlighted its ongoing commitment to fostering research and innovation at the 2009 Novartis European Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp), with the unveiling of its Lab of The Future (LOTF) concept. LOTF is a global Novartis initiative to create state-of-the-art laboratories comprising flexible work spaces, modular furniture to meet changing team needs, and cutting edge technology to support communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhanced innovation in Novartis research.