Novartis announced today that it received regulatory approval in Japan from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) for once-daily Gilenya (fingolimod) 0.5mg for the prevention of relapse and delay of progression of physical disability in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), and for Illaris (canakinumab) subcutaneous (s.c.) injection 150mg, the first treatment for adults and children with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS). Link: Click Here

Newron: Biotie Therapies Corp. ("Biotie" or "Company", NASDAQ-OMX; BTH1V) and Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. ("Newron", SIX; NWRN) today announced that they have signed an agreement for Biotie to acquire Newron in a transaction valued at EUR 45 million (the “Transaction”). The Transaction is still subject inter alia to the approval by the EGM of Newron expected to be convened at the end of October 2011. Link: Click Here
 

Lonza: Global regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB) and Lonza Group (SWS: LONN), a world leader in biologic manufacturing, today announced that they have entered into a strategic alliance for clinical and long-term commercial production of Mesoblast’s off-the-shelf (allogeneic) adult stem cell products. Link: Click Here

AFG: Longer working hours at AFG. AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holding AG’s Group Management has decided after consultation with the Personnel Commission to increase the length of the working week from 42 to 44 hours at all Swiss companies in the Kitchens and Refrigeration, Steel Technology and Surface Technology Divisions and in the Asta (logistics) business area. Link: Click Here

Affichage APG-SGA: new brand presence in Switzerland. Affichage Holding is underlining its strategic focus on its home market of Switzerland by strengthening its core brand with a fresh new look. All business activities in Switzerland will now be brought together under the corporate brand APG│SGA. The new brand presence is scheduled to roll out in January 2012. Link: Click Here



Wirtschaft
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ECB may proceed with a decisive rate cut: 50bp in October. We believe the ECB may proceed with a 50bp rate cut at the 6th of October meeting, thus fully reversing the 2011 rate hikes. We also believe the ECB could open the door to more liquidity operations such as new 6 months liquidity operations and possibly longer maturity liquidity operations. Link: Click Here

UK MPC's Broadbent highlights 'disinflationary' risks. BoE MPC member Ben Broadbent gave his first speech since starting his term in June. The main focus of his speech was an analysis of the causes of the exchange rate depreciation since 2007. He was of the opinion that the main cause of the depreciation was not monetary but real as it reflected the need to rebalance the UK supply away from non-trade goods and services towards tradables - in order to match an equivalent shift in demand. Link: Click Here

German Ifo eases back in Sept, but still firm. Further easing in September. All of the components of the German Ifo survey eased back again September, continuing their declines from peaks in June. But the declines were smaller than expected, and more broadly the Ifo suggests that conditions in the German manufacturing sector remain relatively firm at present. Link: Click Here