Business

Merck Expresses Confidence in the Efficacy and Safety Profiles of ZETIA® (ezetimibe) and VYTORIN® (ezetimibe/simvastatin) as Effective Medicines for Managing Elevated Cholesterol

ORLANDO, Fl., Nov. 15, 2009 – At the American Heart Association meeting today, Merck & Co., Inc. said it is confident in the safety and efficacy profiles of ZETIA® (ezetimibe) and VYTORIN® (ezetimibe/simvastatin), and issued the following comment in response to misinterpretation of results from a small 200-patient imaging study called ARBITER 6.    » read more »

Upfront and potential consideration of over $500 million

16 November 2009, London UK, Rockville US -- GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA (GSK) and Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (Nabi) today announced an exclusive worldwide option and licensing agreement for a nicotine conjugate candidate vaccine (NicVAX®), an investigational vaccine for the treatment of nicotine addiction and the prevention of smoking relapse, as well as for the development of a second generation nicotine vaccine.    » read more »

US interim data show lower doses of antigen may suffice to generate a protective immune response against A(H1N1)

Basel, November 17, 2009 - Novartis announced today new interim data from ongoing clinical trials demonstrating that a single 7.5µg dose of the company's influenza A(H1N1) 2009 unadjuvanted vaccine, half of the currently-approved US dose, fulfilled immune response criteria associated with protection in adults and the elderly (>=65 years of age).    » read more »

John Rowe discusses how cap-and-trade legislation works to limit costs

CHICAGO (Nov. 16, 2009) – Exelon Chairman and CEO John W. Rowe said today that current legislative proposals on climate will minimize costs to consumers while addressing the imminent threat of global warming. In a keynote speech at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners annual convention, Rowe said a cap-and-trade system is cheaper than any of the alternatives and current proposals include protections to avoid sharp price increases for consumers.

“I believe the Senate can pass bipartisan climate legislation this Congress,” said Rowe. “The support of wavering senators will turn on whether they are reassured on the issue of costs, and I am confident they will be.”    » read more »

Technology Enables Energy Efficient, Reduced Cost and Enhanced Quality Lighting Source

WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 16, 2009 – DuPont announced that it has been awarded a $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a two-year project to develop a solid-state lighting source using low-cost organic light emitting diode (OLED) solution-processing manufacturing techniques.    » read more »

Midland, MI - November 16, 2009 -- The Dow Chemical Company's (NYSE:DOW) DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, a flexible photovoltaic solar cell packaged in the form of a roofing shingle that can be easily integrated with standard asphalt shingle materials, has been named one of "The 50 Best Inventions of 2009" by TIME magazine.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced today that it has received a complete response letter from the FDA regarding its application to market Lumizyme™ (alglucosidase alfa) for the treatment of Pompe disease. In its letter, the agency stated that satisfactory resolution of deficiencies related to the Allston Landing manufacturing plant are required before the Lumizyme application can be approved.

Genzyme believes the other elements of the Lumizyme review, such as the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), the product label, and post-marketing requirements, have been satisfactorily addressed.    » read more »

EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 16 -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) has completed installing reinforcements within the side-of-body section of two more 787 Dreamliners.

Over the weekend, employees at Boeing's facility in Everett, Wash., finished reinforcing the full-scale static test airframe and the second Dreamliner designated for flight test. Installations were completed Nov. 11 on the first flight-test airplane.

The modification entails installing new fittings at 34 stringer locations within the joint where the wing is attached to the fuselage.    » read more »

Operating actions result in EBIT loss before special items of $261 million and managerial net loss of $1.2 billion; Accelerated plan to repay U.S. and Canadian taxpayers; first $1.2 billion payment in December

November 16, 2009 -- DETROIT – General Motors Company (GM) released today preliminary non-GAAP managerial results1 for its first 83 days of operation, providing an initial look at its financial performance since it began operations as a new company on July 10, 2009.    » read more »

U.S. EPA Recognizes ExxonMobil for Reducing Methane Emissions Through Technology Advances and Operational Excellence

Nov. 16, 2009 -- HOUSTON -- ExxonMobil Production Company received a 2009 Continuing Excellence award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under its Natural Gas STAR Program.

The Natural Gas Star Program recognizes companies that apply cost-effective technologies and management practices to improve operational efficiency and reduce methane emissions. The Continuing Excellence Award is presented to companies that annually self report to the EPA and continually demonstrate a high level of performance in reducing emissions, implementing a variety of technologies and practices, and supporting the program's activities, initiatives, and outreach.    » read more »

Responding To Schumer's Call, DOJ's Head Of Antitrust Investigations Will Come To New York To Explore Anticompetitive Practices In The Dairy Industry

November 16, 2009 -- Today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that at his urging Christine A. Varney, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division, will come to New York to meet with dairy farmers and consumers to explore potential anticompetitive behavior on the part of dairy processors.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- Museum of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China -- PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good afternoon. It is a great honor for me to be here in Shanghai, and to have this opportunity to speak with all of you. I'd like to thank Fudan University's President Yang for his hospitality and his gracious welcome. I'd also like to thank our outstanding Ambassador, Jon Huntsman, who exemplifies the deep ties and respect between our nations. I don't know what he said, but I hope it was good. (Laughter.)    » read more »

November 15, 2009 -- On November 15, President Obama participated in the 17th Annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ meeting in Singapore. APEC members account for 53% of global GDP, purchase 58% of U.S. goods exports, and represent a market of 2.7 billion consumers. In 2008, U.S. goods exports to the Asia-Pacific totaled $747 billion, an increase of 8.3% over 2007. During that same period, U.S. services exports to the region totaled $186.5 billion, up 7.7 percent.    » read more »

System Traffic Down 4.1 Percent from August 2008

November 13, 2009 - The number of scheduled domestic and international passengers on U.S. airlines in August 2009 declined by 4.1 percent from August 2008, dropping by 2.8 million to 65.0 million, the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today reported . August was the 17th consecutive month with a decrease in passengers from the prior year .

BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, in a release of preliminary data, reported that U.S. airlines carried 4.1 percent fewer domestic passengers than in August 2008. International passengers on U.S. carriers decreased 4.5 percent .    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke issued the following statement on the release of the September 2009 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Today’s report showed that U.S. exports increased by 2.9 percent to $132.0 billion since August 2009. Imports increased 5.8 percent to $168.4 billion.    » read more »