Business & Industry News Channel
Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) has announced that in the first three months of 2018, Group sales rose 6% to CHF 13.6 billion. Sales in the Pharmaceuticals Division increased 7% to CHF 10.7 billion. A key growth driver was Ocrevus, used to treat two forms of multiple sclerosis. It continued its strong growth in the US and was launched in Europe and additional countries worldwide during the first quarter. 
Family-owned pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim has presented its latest pipeline updates at a Research & Development press conference entitled 'Transcending Disease Boundaries', at its global headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany. The company's R&D strategy and current pipeline has the potential to deliver 15 new medicines for approval by 2025 (probability adjusted). 
Novartis announced the launch of its FocalView app, an ophthalmic digital research platform created with ResearchKit. FocalView aims to allow researchers to track disease progression by collecting real-time, self-reported data directly from consenting patients. By adapting the design of clinical trials to suit the daily routine of patients, the app may reduce barriers to participation, leading to a more nuanced understanding of ophthalmic diseases and potentially accelerating the development of novel treatments. 
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Danish Red Cross (DRC) and Novo Nordisk have announced a partnership to tackle the growing issue of chronic diseases that affect millions of people living in humanitarian crises around the world. Novartis announces a five-year commitment to the fight against malaria in conjunction with the 7th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Conference and the Malaria Summit of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Further, the company releases new African research on progress and remaining challenges toward the 2030 malaria elimination targets, together with Elimination 8 and the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust program. GSK and Orchard Therapeutics have announced a strategic agreement, under which GSK will transfer its portfolio of approved and investigational rare disease gene therapies to Orchard, securing the continued development of the programmes and access for patients. This acquisition strengthens Orchard's position as a global leader in gene therapy for rare diseases. 
GSK and Orchard Therapeutics have announced a strategic agreement, under which GSK will transfer its portfolio of approved and investigational rare disease gene therapies to Orchard, securing the continued development of the programmes and access for patients. This acquisition strengthens Orchard's position as a global leader in gene therapy for rare diseases.