Eurartesim(R) - dihydroartemisinin piperaquine (DHA-PQP) - the first artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Eurartesim was developed collaboratively by Sigma Tau Group, Italy, and the not-for-profit research foundation Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV). 

 Eurartesim is now ready for delivery to Cambodia, the first malaria endemic country to place an order for the newly approved treatment. Cambodia prioritized the use of DHA-PQP as a first line drug and was awaiting EMA approval to allow procurement of this product using international donor funds. 

Mundipharma today announced the positive European Commission (EC) decision for flutiform(R) (fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate), a new combination therapy for the maintenance treatment of asthma, in Europe. This decision is binding on all 21 Concerned Member States involved in the decentralized procedure (DCP) and the first national approvals of flutiform are expected across a number of countries by the end of 2012. 

 A phase II interferon-free combination study with TMC435 and daclatasvir will evaluate treatment-naive or previous null responder patients with HCV genotype 1a and 1b - The study will include approx. 180 patients and will evaluate a combination of TMC435 and daclatasvir, with or without Ribavirin, in four different cohorts for 12 or 24 weeks of treatment 

 Medivir AB announced that a phase II combination study with the investigational compound TMC435 and Bristol-Myers Squibb's investigational compound daclatasvir will start in July. 

 In a head-to-head trial between VPRIV and Cerezyme(R) (imiglucerase), only patients treated with VPRIV experienced statistically significant improvement in lumbar spine bone mineral density at 9 months 

 Shire plc today presented new data that show VPRIV(R) (velaglucerase alfa for injection), the company's enzyme replacement therapy for type 1 Gaucher disease, significantly improved selected markers of Gaucher-related bone disease in patients. These data were presented at the European Working Group on Gaucher Disease (EWGGD) meeting held in Paris, France.