Business & Industry News Channel
Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) reported third-quarter earnings growth driven by increased shipments of Cerezyme® (imiglucerase for injection). Patients in the United States began returning to normal dosing levels last month, and patients globally are expected to be able to do so this quarter. Earnings growth in the third quarter was also driven by strong revenue from Lumizyme™ (alglucosidase alfa) and cost reduction measures. 
Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced a research collaboration with Harvard University. The goal of the collaboration is to advance knowledge in the area of human health through basic and applied research and to promote scientific exchange between Harvard University and sanofi-aventis. The focus of this collaboration is translational biomedical research in multiple therapeutic areas such as cancer, diabetes and inflammation. 
GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK), Fondazione Telethon and Fondazione San Raffaele announced a new strategic alliance to research and develop novel treatments to address rare genetic disorders, using gene therapy carried out on stem cells taken from the patient's bone marrow (ex vivo). The alliance capitalises on research performed at the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), a joint venture between Fondazione Telethon and Fondazione San Raffaele established since 1995. 
New findings from the longest assessment of any MS-specific treatment show that patients treated earlier with Betaferon® (interferon beta-1b) had a 39.3% relative reduced risk in mortality for the time since randomization in the study (P=0.027), compared with patients receiving placebo for up to the first five years of treatment. The magnitude of the effect of Betaferon on survival observed in this study can be illustrated by the number needed to treat: Eight patients needed to receive early Betaferon treatment in the trial (number needed to treat) in order to avoid one death as compared to placebo. 
Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the European Commission confirmed the positive opinion of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approving TWYNSTA®. TWYNSTA® is indicated for the treatment of hypertension in adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on amlodipine or as replacement therapy in adult patients receiving telmisartan and amlodipine from separate tablets containing the same component doses. 
At a ceremony at the WHO's headquarters in Geneva, Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis, and Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to continue their collaboration toward a world free of leprosy.
Under the terms of the MoU, Novartis continues to provide free multidrug therapy (MDT) medicines to all countries worldwide. The donation to the WHO, valued at about USD 26 million, will treat an estimated 1.1 million leprosy patients over the next five years, through 2015. 
Merck KGaA has notified the European Medicines Agency (EMA) of its intention to request a re-examination of the opinion issued by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in September regarding Cladribine Tablets as a treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).