Business & Industry News Channel
Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany is starting Phase III with an innovative patch for female contraception that combines low dosed ethinylestradiol and gestodene. Approximately 3300 women will be enrolled into two global studies to evaluate the contraceptive reliability of the patch starting in May 2009. 
Roche confirms that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has requested deployment of the "Rapid Response Stockpile". The stockpile is being deployed to countries in need at the discretion of WHO. The stockpiles includes both the 2 million treatment courses held by the WHO and the 3 million treatment course rapid response stockpile held by Roche.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is committed to supporting governments and health authorities around the world to respond to the emergence of the new influenza A (H1N1) strain. The company has developed a number of potential interventions which it believes may be of value in efforts to reduce the impact and spread of this new influenza virus. These include the antiviral medicine Relenza (zanamivir) and significant vaccine capability and technology, including use of novel adjuvants.
Results from an international, placebo-controlled trial,(1) presented for the first time at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in Seattle, U.S.A. demonstrate that Mirapexin® / Sifrol® (pramipexole) also improves depressive symptoms, a common, disabling non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD), in addition to its established efficacy in treating the motor symptoms of PD.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is closely monitoring the situation regarding the emergence of a new influenza A (H1N1) strain in Mexico, the United States of America, Canada, France, Spain and New Zealand. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern and they have raised their level of influenza surveillance globally.
Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) has reported financial results for first-quarter 2009. Revenues were $10.9 billion, a decrease of 8% compared with the year-ago quarter. Foreign exchange unfavorably impacted revenues by approximately $640 million or 5%. For first-quarter 2009, U.S. revenues were $5.0 billion, a decrease of 10% compared with the year-ago quarter. 
All in all, the Merck Group performed solidly during the first quarter of 2009. However, Merck is not an island. The recession is affecting the company's results, mainly in the Chemicals business sector. In addition, this year's first quarter is compared to a very strong first quarter in 2008.