Bayer HealthCare to broaden strategic alliance with German Cancer Research Center
Bayer HealthCare (Bayer) and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) will extend their successful strategic research alliance in search of novel cancer therapeutics by focusing their activities also on the field of immunotherapy. Immunotherapies are a promising approach to treat cancer with the aim to selectively reactivate the body's own immune system so that it attacks tumor cells. For the first time, scientists from the German Cancer Research Center and Bayer will work together in a joint laboratory located at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg to develop novel immunotherapies. 
AstraZeneca and the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet announced today their intention to create an Integrated Translational Research Centre for cardiovascular and metabolic disease and regenerative medicine located at Karolinska Institutet's site in Stockholm, Sweden. The Centre will be set up to conduct preclinical and clinical studies aimed at advancing the understanding of cardiovascular and metabolic disease pathophysiology and assessing new drug targets for AstraZeneca's two biotech units, AstraZeneca Innovative Medicines and Early Development (iMed) and MedImmune. 
The new Roche cobas® HPV Test app for iPad, which provides essential information about cervical cancer, human papilloma virus (HPV) testing and HPV genotypes, is now available free of charge from the App Store. Produced by Roche's UK and Ireland diagnostics affiliate as an aid to health professionals, the cobas HPV Test app for iPad provides a wealth of information about the role of HPV testing in the cervical screening programme. 
Novartis announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved llaris (canakinumab, ACZ885) in the treatment of patients with acute gouty arthritis who suffer frequent attacks, and whose symptoms cannot or should not be managed with current treatment options. Ilaris is the first biologic approved in the EU for symptomatic pain relief in a gouty arthritis indication, and is administered in a single, subcutaneous injection of 150 mg[1]. 
Genzyme, a Sanofi company (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), ahas received a Company Award from EURORDIS, the largest European patient organization in the field of rare diseases. The EURORDIS Company Award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of companies dedicated to rare diseases. Genzyme was honored for pioneering the development and delivery of therapies for rare diseases, its longstanding support of patient organizations, including EURORDIS, as well as initiatives to increase patient access to Genzyme treatments.