Sanofi-aventis Strengthens Commitment to Ophthalmology through Partnership with The Vision Institute
Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced the official signing of a cooperation agreement between Fovea Pharmaceuticals, its Ophthalmology Division, and the Vision Institute (Institut de la Vision), one of the main eye disease research centers in Europe, for research in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of ocular diseases. This agreement aims to set up a privileged partnership between sanofi-aventis and the Vision Institute on the model of translational R&D and to strengthen the collaboration of sanofi-aventis with the bodies constituting the Vision Institute, 
New clinical trial data just published in Pediatric Diabetes show that Levemir® (insulin detemir), Novo Nordisk's basal insulin analogue, is an equally efficacious treatment option for two to five year-old children with type 1 diabetes, compared with human basal insulin, but is associated with lower hypoglycaemic risk(1). No basal insulin analogue is currently recommended for these young children, and Novo Nordisk is now working to update the Levemir® label. 
Merck KGaA announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the microbiology business of Biotest AG, Dreieich, Germany. This business comprises heipha Dr. Müller GmbH, located in Eppelheim, Germany, as well as the Hycon business located in Dreieich, the subsidiaries in France, Japan and in the USA as well as further activities and employees in several European countries. In all, the business has approximately 290 employees and sales of approximately EUR 50 million in 2010. 
The European Commission has granted Novartis approval for Gilenya® (fingolimod) 0.5 mg daily as a disease modifying therapy in patients with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) despite treatment with beta interferon, or in patients with rapidly evolving severe RRMS. "Today marks an important step forward in the way we manage this chronic, debilitating disease in Europe," said Professor Hans-Peter Hartung, Professor and Chairman, Dept. of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine University, Germany. 
Amgen has received notice that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a negative opinion for Amgen's application to extend the marketing authorization in Europe for Vectibix(R) (panitumumab) to include combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with wild-type KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). 
MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) and Boehringer Ingelheim announced the signing of a biopharmaceutical manufacturing agreement for therapeutic antibodies. The agreement covers the process development and manufacturing of additional clinical material for MorphoSys's proprietary MOR208 program and other drug candidates. MOR208, a potent monoclonal anti-CD19 antibody, is in development for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and potentially other B-cell malignancies. 
Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today the acquisition of PVT Probenverteiltechnik GmbH based in Waiblingen, Germany and of PVT Lab Systems, LLC based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. PVT is a global market leader in providing customised automation and workflow solutions for in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) testing in large commercial and hospital laboratories. Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will pay PVT shareholders an upfront payment of EUR 65 million as well as up to EUR 20 million upon reaching performance-related milestones.