Author: Kevin Grogan

Genentech and majority stakeholder Roche have been boosted by data from a second late-stage trial of Avastin which may help the firm in its bid to get the blockbuster approved as a breast cancer treatment.

Schering-Plough has posted a $3.36 billion, or $2.08 per share, net loss for the fourth quarter but the company’s results were dominated by the controversy surrounding the cholesterol drug Vytorin.

Sanofi-Aventis has posted a 4.5% increase in adjusted net income (excluding selected items) for the fourth quarter to 1.43 billion euros, in line with analysts’ expectations, though sales slipped 2.2% to 6.91 billion euros.

GlaxoSmithKline shares have taken quite a thumping but judging by comments made by its chief executive-in-waiting, investors who have been calling for a sale of its consumer health division are going to be disappointed.

AstraZeneca is considering the sale of certain early-stage research projects looking at gastrointestinal disease, according to reports this morning in a Swedish newspaper.