PFIZER

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $1 billion for an 18.4 percent stake in Irish drugmaker Elan Corp , and will acquire a major stake in Elan's portfolio of experimental drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Johnson & Johnson is take over most of Elan Corp Alzheimer's research and invest $1 billion in new Elan equity in exchange for an 18.4 percent stake in the Irish drugmaker, the companies said on Thursday.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis is in talks to buy parts of Irish peer Elan , including its flagship multiple sclerosis products and its Alzheimer's disease pipeline, the Sunday Times said.

The new bosses at Sanofi-Aventis and GlaxoSmithKline are playing a cautious acquisition game, 13 and seven months respectively after taking control of the two big European drugmakers.

Pfizer Inc's Sutent delayed the worsening of the type of pancreatic cancer that afflicted Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs by more than five months longer than a placebo, according to data from a clinical trial.

Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Wednesday that it would buy privately held Arrow Group for $1.75 billion, clinching a long-expected deal by the U.S. generic drugmaker to expand internationally.

Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Wednesday it will buy privately held Arrow Group for $1.75 billion, clinching a long-expected deal by the U.S. generic drugmaker to expand internationally.

Pfizer Inc is seeking acquisitions in the Middle East where the company expects to see double digit growth, a Pfizer executive said on Sunday, according to Bloomberg.

Pfizer Inc , the world's largest drugmaker, is looking to conclude deals in emerging markets over few months to raise its share of a market estimated at about $80 billion, an executive said on Sunday.

Technology shares fell on Friday after disappointing results from National Semiconductor, but a rise in defensive stocks, like healthcare, cushioned losses in the Dow and S&P 500.

An experimental cancer pill from GlaxoSmithKline reduced the risk of tumour progression or death by 54 percent in advanced kidney cancer patients compared to placebo, trial results showed on Monday.

Treatment guidelines exist to help physicians choose the best treatment options for their patients based on current scientific studies.

U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is set to raise $10.6 billion through the sale of a four-part bond, IFR reported on Tuesday, that will help finance its purchase of Wyeth.

Pfizer Inc has struck licensing agreements with two Indian-based companies, as the world's largest drugmaker seeks new avenues of growth in generics and emerging markets.

Europe's pharmaceutical industry hit back at the European Commission on Thursday, saying a probe into lack of competition in the sector was exaggerated and misleading.

Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures flat and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.1 percent at 4:40 a.m. EDT.

The Dow rose on Tuesday as investors scooped up defensive shares, including Pfizer , while energy companies' stocks climbed as oil hit a six-month high.

The Dow rose on Tuesday as investors scooped up defensive shares, including Pfizer , while energy companies' stocks climbed as oil hit a six-month high.

The Dow rose on Tuesday as investors bought into defensive shares, including Pfizer , while energy companies climbed as oil hit a six-month high.

U.S. drugmaker Wyeth reported higher-than-expected first-quarter earnings, boosted by cost-cutting, but revenue fell short of forecasts as the stronger dollar hurt overseas sales.

U.S. drugmaker Wyeth reported higher-than-expected first-quarter earnings due to cost-cutting, but revenue fell short of forecasts as the stronger dollar hurt overseas sales.