Premier Research Group and Octagon Research Solutions have announced the formalization of a partnership agreement to provide a broader solution set.

MedAssets has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Accuro Healthcare Solutions, a provider of revenue cycle managemen solutions focused on delivering tangible financial improvement to hospitals and other healthcare providers.

Foamix, a developer of dermatological foam medications, and Galderma have signed an agreement to jointly develop innovative medicated foam.

AstraZeneca has submitted a supplemental new drug application to the FDA to seek approval of a new indication for Symbicort inhalation aerosol for the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

H Lundbeck has appointed Ulf Wiinberg as new president and CEO of the company, effective June 1, 2008.

DOR BioPharma has initiated a comprehensive program to evaluate the efficacy of RiVax in non-human primates.

Axis-Shield, the international in-vitro diagnostics company, has completed the development and manufacturing of a new assay for homocysteine to run on Abbott's Architect family of automated immunoassay analysers.

China Medical System Holdings has announced that the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration has approved the renewal of the import drug license of Deanxit.

US based CoreValve has appointed Daniel Lemaitre as CEO, effective immediately. He succeeds Jacques Seguin, co-founder of CoreValve, who will remain as chairman of the board.

Merck KGaA has announced that its Merck Serono division and ZymoGenetics are initiating a Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of atacicept in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that the FDA has approved Advair Diskus 250/50 for the reduction of exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have a history of exacerbations.

US based CoNCERT Pharmaceuticals has announced the closing of a $37 million series C financing.

Protox Therapeutics has entered into collaboration with the FDA under the terms of a cooperative research and development agreement.

Transgenomic has announced that the National Cancer Institute had approved a proposal to perform mutational analysis and sequencing of the mitochondrial genes in the NCI 60 cancer cell line panel.

Alexza Pharmaceuticals has completed the enrollment in its Phase IIa proof-of-concept clinical trial with AZ-002 in patients with panic disorder.

Dental laser company Biolase Technology has named veteran financial executive David Mulder as CFO of the company, effective immediately.

Ista Pharmaceuticals has announced positive results from the preliminary analysis of its second and final Bepreve Phase III clinical study.

Beckman Coulter has licensed certain rights to testing for the hepatitis C virus from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics.

Innocoll has announced that the last of three planned Phase II clinical trials sponsored by its wholly owned subsidiary, Innocoll Technologies, to investigate CollaRx Gentamicin Topical for the treatment and prevention of infected diabetic foot ulcers, has commenced dosing.

Apogee Technology has reported the completion of in vivo proof-of-concept studies and the filing of a new US patent application relating to its intradermal drug delivery technology.