OncoTrack: A new International consortium launches project in the area of genomic cancer diagnostics
OncoTrack, an international consortium of over 60 scientists, managed by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, has launched one of Europe's largest collaborative academic-industry research projects to develop and assess novel approaches for identification of new markers for colon cancer. The unique five year project, Methods for systematic next generation oncology biomarker development, brings together top scientists from European academic institutions with a wide range of expertise, and partners them with pharmaceutical companies. 
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) outlined new plans to encourage talented students graduating from UK universities to consider pursuing a career within the company. These measures are part of the company's ongoing efforts, as one of the leading FTSE companies and employers in the UK, to ensure the ongoing success of the business. Each year, GSK currently recruits between 50-100 undergraduate students from various academic disciplines into its UK Graduate Training Programmes or other roles within the company. 
Nycomed's 2010 performance continued to show above industry average growth in emerging markets, as well as strong growth of Key Products (excluding pantoprazole), Regional and Local prescription (Rx) drugs. Net turnover was steady with a slight decrease by 1.8% to € 3,170.6 million in 2010 from € 3,228.0 million in 2009 (+0.4%, excluding one-time payment from Forest Laboratories in 2009). 
Roche's Annual General Meeting, which was held in Basel, has approved all of the Board of Directors' proposals. The 818 shareholders in attendance, representing 142,963,212 or 89.4% of a total of 160,000,000 bearer shares, approved the 2010 Annual Report and financial statements. They also authorised a dividend increase of 10% to 6.60 Swiss francs per share and non-voting equity. 
XIAPEX® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum), a new non-surgical treatment option for Dupuytren's contracture in adult patients with a palpable cord, has been granted marketing authorization by the European Commission and is expected to be available for use in some European markets later this year.(1) Collagenase clostridium histolyticum is the first injectable treatment to be approved in the EU for the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) has the marketing rights to collagenase clostridium histolyticum in Europe, and Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AUXL) has the rights in the rest of the world. 
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced that it is partnering with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to support the recently launched Dengue Vaccine Initiative (DVI). Sanofi Pasteur and the IVI will aim to raise awareness and to work to move dengue vaccination higher on the global health agenda.