Business & Industry News Channel
As expected, the net sales of the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim declined in local currency terms (-5.1%) in the first half of 2010. Consolidation in euros produced a fall of –2.8%, due to more favourable currency effects, with total net sales of EUR 6,207 million compared to EUR 6,388 million in the first half of the previous year. 
Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS) announced results of two phase 3 studies of mipomersen in patients who had high cholesterol levels while on maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy. In the study of patients with severe hypercholesterolemia, mipomersen reduced LDL-C, the primary endpoint, by 36 percent compared with a 13 percent increase for placebo. 
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that a Luxembourg incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary of Shire plc will launch a voluntary public takeover offer for all the shares in Movetis NV, the Belgium-based European specialty gastrointestinal (GI) company. Movetis is listed on Euronext and focuses on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative treatments for GI conditions with a high unmet medical need. 
For the fourth time, Roche and the Salzburg Festival have invited 100 students to take part in Roche Continents. Science, music and art students from 43 different countries will be spending a week together in Salzburg discussing creativity in their respective fields of study and uncovering the common ground in what at first glance appear to be very different disciplines. The aim of "Roche Continents", an annual event which first took place in 2007, is to encourage students to try out new and unconventional forms of cooperation while together exploring the notions of creativity and innovation in the arts, music and science. Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a Positive Opinion for the approval of TWYNSTA®. It will be indicated in adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on amlodipine and is also indicated as replacement therapy in adult patients receiving telmisartan and amlodipine from separate tablets can instead receive tablets of TWYNSTA containing the same component doses. 
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive opinion for Arixtra (fondaparinux), an anti-clotting drug (antithrombotic) for the treatment of adults with acute symptomatic spontaneous superficial-vein thrombosis (SVT) of the lower limbs without concomitant deep-vein thrombosis. The Roche Group posted strong operating results in the first half of 2010. Group sales grew by 5% in local currencies (3% in Swiss francs; 7% in US dollars) to 24.6 billion Swiss francs. The Pharmaceuticals Division increased its sales by 4% in local currencies (1% in Swiss francs; 6% in US dollars) to 19.4 billion Swiss francs. Demand for the cancer drugs Avastin, MabThera/Rituxan, Herceptin, Xeloda and Tarceva continued to show strong growth. Overall sales of oncology products rose 9% in local currencies in the first half year, enabling Roche to solidify its leading market position in this segment.