Sciele Pharma, Inc, a US-based group company of Shionogi & Co, Ltd and Victory Pharma, Inc announced that Sciele and Victory Pharma, Inc have mutually agreed to terminate their previously announced merger agreement due to the occurrence of an unforeseen development that occurred after the agreement was signed.

Galapagos NV has successfully identified a second pre-clinical candidate compound in its osteoarthritis alliance with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Galapagos also reached a milestone on another compound in the alliance. Together these milestones trigger payments totalling €5.2 million to Galapagos.

Drug maker Aurobindo Pharma said on Monday that its Australian subsidiary has received approval from the government agency for registering its anti-hypertension drug Auro-Linsinopril in that country.

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory concerning three confirmed, and one possible report of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare brain infection, in patients using the psoriasis drug Raptiva (efalizumab). Three of those patients have died. All four patients were treated with the drug for more than three years. None of the patients were receiving other treatments that suppress the immune system.