Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. (“Newron”), a research and development company focused on novel CNS and pain therapies, announced today that Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt Germany, is returning global rights to safinamide to Newron effective in 180 days. The decision by Merck Serono is due to strategic considerations and re-prioritization of its R&D pipeline, and is not based on any new efficacy or safety findings with safinamide.

Takeda president Yasuchika Hasegawa said that following its acquisition of Nycomed, the drugmaker has no near-term plans for another large-scale merger and acquisition, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. "We would like to focus on integration for the next year or two. We don't have the capacity for big acquisitions, but maybe small ones," he indicated.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had denied approval for Qnexa last October and asked for evidence that higher heart rate associated with the drug does not increase the risk of major heart problems.

Cytomedix, Inc. (OTCBB:CMXI) (the "Company"), a leading developer of biologically active regenerative therapies for wound care, inflammation and angiogenesis, announced today the execution of a letter agreement granting an undisclosed global pharmaceutical company an exclusivity period until December 31, 2011 to conduct further due diligence regarding the AutoloGel™ System. In exchange, Cytomedix will receive a $2 million non-refundable option fee within 15 days.

Medivation Inc (MDVN.O), which expects key data this year from a pivotal trial of its experimental prostate cancer drug, believes the medicine could have competitive advantages over current therapies.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY)’s Yervoy drug was rejected by the U.K.’s health-cost agency, which suggested the company consider lowering the price of the skin- cancer treatment.

Germany's Bayer AG has joined a number of its peers in the pharmaceutical industry with the signing of an agreement that could see it set up additional manufacturing capacity in Russia.