PRNewswire

 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and 

 (NYSE: AZN) today announced that they have entered into a clinical trial collaboration to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of 

investigational anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, MEDI4736, in combination with CYRAMZA

 (ramucirumab), Lilly's VEGF Receptor 2 antiangiogenic cancer medicine. The planned study will assess the combination as a treatment for patients with advanced solid tumors.

	The Phase I study is expected to establish the safety and a recommended dosing regimen - with the potential to open expansion cohorts in various tumors of interest - for the combination of MEDI4736 and ramucirumab. Under the terms of the agreement, the trial will be sponsored by Lilly. Additional details of the collaboration, including tumors to be studied and financial terms, were not disclosed.

	MEDI4736 is a monoclonal antibody, developed by 

 global biologics research and development arm, directed against programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Signals from PD-L1 help tumors avoid detection by the immune system. Ramucirumab is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Receptor 2 antagonist that specifically binds and blocks activation of VEGF Receptor 2 by blocking the binding of VEGF receptor ligands VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. Preclinical data indicate that combining VEGFR inhibitors with immune checkpoint blockades has the potential to enhance anti-tumor activity.

	"The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been one of the more exciting research advancements in recent oncology history, but it is going to be even more interesting to see how these inhibitors can be combined with other proven targeted therapies," said 

, M.D., senior vice president, product development and medical affairs, Lilly Oncology. "This collaboration represents the next wave of immuno-oncology research by bringing together two innovative medicines - Lilly's CYRAMZA and 

 MEDI4736 - as a novel combination that we hope will one day provide new cancer treatment solutions."

, head of immuno-oncology, global medicines development at 

, said, "We believe that combination therapy in immuno-oncology has the potential to transform the way cancer  is treated. MEDI4736 is supported by a comprehensive development program and is emerging as a cornerstone of our combination-focused immuno-oncology pipeline targeting multiple tumor types. Our collaboration with Lilly is a great addition to our program and provides the opportunity to explore another exciting, novel combination that could deliver important clinical benefit to cancer patients."

	In the U.S., CYRAMZA (ramucirumab) is approved for use as a single agent or in combination with paclitaxel (a type of chemotherapy) as a treatment for people with advanced or metastatic gastric (stomach) or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose cancer has progressed on or after prior fluoropyrimidine- or platinum-containing chemotherapy. It is also approved in combination with docetaxel (a type of chemotherapy) as a treatment for people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose cancer has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Additionally, it is approved with FOLFIRI (a type of chemotherapy) as a treatment for people with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) whose cancer has progressed on or after therapy with bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, and a fluoropyrimidine.

	There are several additional studies underway or planned to investigate CYRAMZA as a single agent and in combination with other anti-cancer therapies for the treatment of multiple tumor types.  

	CYRAMZA is an antiangiogenic therapy. It is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Receptor 2 antagonist that specifically binds and blocks activation of VEGF Receptor 2 by blocking the binding of VEGF receptor ligands VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D. CYRAMZA inhibited angiogenesis in an 

Articles

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) today announced that they have entered into a clinical trial collaboration to evaluate safety and preliminary efficacy of their products.

Lilly and AstraZeneca to Collaborate on Immuno-Oncology Combination Clinical Trial in Solid Tumors

		THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., May 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) today announced the creation of a catalog of qualified tools and reagents available to academic institutions to help further research and advance basic discoveries in biology, as well as deepen relationships with academic institutions. This catalog and its associated materials are called the Amgen Biology-Enabling Resource (AmBER). 

		AmBER is comprised of more than 1,000 elements and includes small molecules, peptides, antibodies and recombinant proteins, engineered cell lines, and genetically-engineered mice. These are tools created to support discovery activities throughout Amgen's history and have been extensively validated in most cases.

		"We see AmBER as an important contribution in our effort to connect with the academic community and to help advance scientific discovery," said Alexander Kamb, Ph.D., senior vice president of Discovery Research at Amgen. "AmBER will allow Amgen to further expand relationships around innovative biology and medicine and enhance research literature quality by providing qualified materials."

		Amgen scientists and staff assembled these materials and have organized pertinent information into a searchable catalog. This catalog is available to designated institutions. Amgen will provide the materials on request as a donation to the cause of basic science--with no claim to ownership of intellectual property to discoveries that may ensue. As specific materials are depleted, Amgen anticipates others will be added so that AmBER continues as an evolving resource for academics.

		For inquiries about the AmBER project, please email 

		Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

		Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential. 

Amgen today announced the creation of a catalog of qualified tools and reagents available to academic institutions to help further research and advance basic discoveries in biology.

Amgen Launches Program To Further Advance Basic Biology Research

	NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., May 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced the acceptance of the March 1, 2015 binding offer from Cardinal Health to acquire its Cordis  business for an approximate value of $2 billion. The offer was accepted after consultations with relevant works councils and trade unions. The company expects the transaction to close towards the end  of 2015, subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions.

	Johnson & Johnson remains dedicated to combating cardiovascular disease through its electrophysiology business, Biosense Webster, in the Medical Devices segment and its leading cardiovascular medicine, XARELTO®, in the Pharmaceutical segment.

	Cordis is a leader in the development and manufacture of interventional vascular technology, partnering with experts worldwide to treat millions of patients who suffer from vascular disease. The business has operations in more than 50 countries, with an extensive research and development network and a global commercial footprint.

	Caring for the world one person at a time inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our approximately 127,000 employees at more than 265 Johnson & Johnson operating companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced the acceptance of the March 1, 2015 binding offer from Cardinal Health to acquire its Cordis business for an approximate value of $2 billion.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Acceptance of Binding Offer From Cardinal Health To Acquire Cordis

/ -- Later this week, Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions will present a new series of health economic outcomes research (HEOR) studies that reinforce the importance of evaluating real-world treatment patterns when developing value-based reimbursement strategies.  

, vice president and chief medical officer of Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, says that physicians, payers and pharmaceutical companies alike have known for more than a decade that clinical trials alone do not accurately reflect how cancer treatment happens in the real world. Feinberg maintains that payers are seeing this disparity, and are adjusting reimbursement strategies as a result.

"With an increased focus on value-based care, which relies on real-world clinical evidence, clinical trial data no longer provides enough information to develop appropriate reimbursement models," said Feinberg. "This new research reinforces that HEOR data can help payers better understand the effectiveness of treatments in real-world settings; and that it can be used to better determine value-based reimbursement strategies."

Over the past year, Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions has published numerous studies on real-world treatment patterns in leukemia and lymphoma care; and the economic impact of that care on patients. 

, Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions will publish a new set of clinical studies focused on renal cell carcinoma at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting 

To view full abstracts of the company's research being featured at the 2015 ASCO Annual Meeting, 

. Attendees of the ASCO Annual Meeting can also learn more by visiting 

Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions' booth #4041

About Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions

Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions provides clinical, reimbursement, technology and distribution services that help health care professionals, payers and pharmaceutical and biotech companies improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of caring for patients who are managing complex diseases.  Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions helps customers alleviate day-to-day administrative burdens, optimize business functions and partner to implement new innovations that move their businesses forward. To learn more, visit

www.cardinalhealth.com/specialtysolutions

, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a 

 that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the 

ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories 

reducing costs, enhancing efficiency and improving quality

. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing 

 and services to more than 100,000 locations each day and is also the industry-leading direct-to-home medical supplies distributor. The company is a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including 

 products. In addition, the company operates the nation's largest 

 that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #22 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health 

 worldwide. More information about the company may be found at 

Later this week, Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions will present a new series of health economic outcomes research (HEOR) studies.

Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions: New Studies Reinforce Important Role Real-World Patient Data Can Play in Developing Value-based Reimbursement Strategies

NEW YORK, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/-- Actavis plc (NYSE: ACT), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company committed to infectious disease treatment innovation, today announced the creation of SHARE ID™ (Sharing Hospital data to Advance Research and Enhance patient care inInfectious Diseases), a collaborative program to leverage real-world data to advance the delivery and effectiveness of care for patients with serious infections due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

SHARE ID is building a robust and collaborative research platform for the infectious disease community to accelerate efforts addressing antibiotic-resistant infections. SHARE ID will be administered by HITLAB, an independent healthcare innovation and teaching lab in New York City. By partnering with multiple hospitals and leveraging real-world data from participating institutions with state-of-the-art analytics, SHARE ID intends to quantify the burden of illness associated with infections due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens, develop decision support tools to assist healthcare decision makers in treating patients with serious infections due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and conduct comparative effectiveness research to identify optimal treatment strategies for patients with antibiotic-resistant infections.

"We are excited to actively support SHARE ID and launch this important collaborative effort that will advance our understanding of the burdens and unmet medical needs caused by multidrug-resistant infections," said Brenton L. Saunders, Actavis President and CEO. "Our commitment is to gain a better understanding of persistent challenges in the treatment of serious infectious diseases, and then to find and advance healthcare solutions to address this problem for the right patient at the right time."

SHARE ID will focus its initial efforts on the deadly Gram-negative infections identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as urgent public health concerns. According to the CDC, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is one of the top three high-consequence antibiotic-resistant threats in the United States today. More than 70 strains of these modern "nightmare bacteria" have been identified since 1997, including 

and these infections have a mortality rate greater than 40 percent. Multidrug-resistant 

 defined by the CDC as a serious public health threat, is also a common cause of healthcare-associated infections including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and surgical site infections. Of 6,700 infections reported by the CDC in 2013, 440 resulted in the death of the patient.

"Our ultimate mission is very straightforward — we want to save lives," said steering committee co-chair,Thomas Lodise, PharmD. PhD, Associate Professor, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist, Stratton VA Medical Center. "We want to improve patient outcomes, reduce antimicrobial resistance and minimize the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. We will actively pursue scientific questions of interest, support antimicrobial stewardship and promote awareness of critical infectious disease challenges. The goal is to use the collective clinical experience of practitioners in the field to inform best treatment practices and optimize real-world care."

Health systems joining the research effort will gain valuable evidence-driven insights by analysis of real-world data to address institutional and patient needs specific to the management of serious infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens. SHARE ID members will have an opportunity to join a community of world-class infectious disease experts and participate on committees, attend SHARE ID meetings and discuss research-related outcomes with peers, among other activities.

The increasing prevalence of difficult-to-treat infections caused by bacteria resistant to most available antibiotics pose a significant risk to public health. Despite this critical situation, healthcare practitioners currently have little data regarding where these pathogens are most prevalent and how best to manage infections due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

"The multi-center research effort anchored in real-world evidence is a novel approach to accelerating our understanding of resistant infections," said James A. McKinnell, Assistant Professor and Infectious Diseases Specialist, Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, and co-chair of the steering committee. "Hospitals participating in this effort will be able to benchmark their experience against that of other organizations while also helping to identify how to better treat patients grappling with these deadly infections."

		Thomas Lodise, PharmD. PhD, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (co-chair)

		James A. McKinnell, MD, Harbor UCLA Medical Center (co-chair)

		Abdulrahman M. El-Sayed, MD, PhD, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health

		Ebbing Lautenbach, MD, MPH, MSCE, University of Pennsylvania

		Michael D. Murray, PharmD, MPH, FISPE, Purdue University College of Pharmacy and Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Effectiveness Research

		Stan Kachnowski, Prof. - IIT New Delhi, Fellow — RSM, Chair,  HITLAB

SHARE ID will be coordinated by HITLAB, in conjunction with Actavis.

To learn more about the SHARE ID mission, data procedures and analysis, and current initiatives, please visit 

In 2014, Actavis, a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company launched SHARE ID along with HITLAB, a healthcare innovation and teaching laboratory, and a team of Infectious Diseases experts. SHARE ID is a collaborative research consortium, designed to offer a platform for scientists, clinicians, hospitals, and infectious disease experts to expedite the development of scientific innovations, optimal treatment pathways and antibiotic stewardship.

SHARE ID™ is designed to enable the infectious diseases community to more rapidly understand and respond to the burdens and risks associated with multidrug-resistant infections. This will involve actively pursuing scientific questions of interest as determined by the SHARE ID™ program steering committee, informing antibiotic stewardship, and promoting awareness about critical infectious diseases issues.  Our goal is to provide affiliate members with the data and evidence needed to inform clinical practices and policies at their institutions. 

The consortium's initial focus will be on multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections.

Actavis plc (NYSE: ACT), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a unique, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model — Growth Pharma.  Actavis is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing innovative branded pharmaceuticals, high-quality generic and over-the-counter medicines and biologic products for patients around the world.

Actavis markets a portfolio of best-in-class products that provide valuable treatments for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics, gastroenterology, women's health, urology, cardiovascular and anti-infective therapeutic categories, and operates the world's third-largest global generics business, providing patients around the globe with increased access to affordable, high-quality medicines. Actavis is an industry leader in research and development, with one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry and a leading position in the submission of generic product applications globally.

With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Actavis is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives.

Actavis intends to adopt a new global name — Allergan – pending shareholder approval in 2015.

For more information, visit Actavis' website at 

Initiative supported by Actavis aims to help advance evidence-based treatment practices using unique data-sharing platform.

Infectious Disease Experts, Scientists and Clinicians Join Forces on SHARE IDâ„¢ to Accelerate the Battle Against Antibiotic-resistant Infections

/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Pharmacyclics, Inc. enhancing AbbVie's scientific and commercial presence in oncology. Pharmacyclics is a leader in the hematological oncology market with Imbruvica® (ibrutinib), a first-in-class BTK-inhibitor used to treat hematological cancers, a 

	"The companies' shared expertise, combined with AbbVie's broad late-stage oncology pipeline, has the potential to transform the cancer treatment landscape for hematological malignancies and improve patient outcomes and quality of life," said 

, chairman and chief executive officer, AbbVie.  "Today marks a significant step forward in our effort to become a leader in oncology and meaningfully augment our long-term growth strategy. The Pharmacyclics team has built an important and rapidly growing franchise with significant long-term potential across a range of hematological cancers."

	Imbruvica is approved for use in four indications in the U.S. and is the only product to have received three Breakthrough Therapy designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  As part of a worldwide partnership with Janssen Biotech, Inc., Imbruvica is now approved in nearly 50 countries. Imbruvica is in mid- and late-stage development for additional hematological oncology indications, with more than 60 clinical trials underway, including 13 in Phase 3 development. Imbruvica is also in early-stage development for solid tumors. AbbVie will market Imbruvica in 

	Across its oncology pipeline, AbbVie has five late-stage assets in clinical development positioned to launch within the next several years. Two programs, venetoclax, a Bcl-2 inhibitor, and duvelisib, a dual PI3 kinase inhibitor, are in development for hematological cancers. AbbVie intends to explore these assets in combination with Imbruvica to evaluate the potential for meaningful improvement beyond the current standard of care. 

	Pharmacyclics will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of AbbVie and will operate from its previous 

headquarters. Wulff-Erik von Borcke, a longtime industry leader and former head of AbbVie's global marketing, will lead Pharmacyclics as president.

	Combined with its existing facilities in 

, AbbVie now employs more than 900 employees in

	The exchange offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Pharmacyclics common stock expired at 5:00 p.m., 

, 2015.  The depositary for the exchange offer has informed AbbVie that a total of 67,408,824 shares of Pharmacyclics common stock, representing approximately 87 percent of Pharmacyclics' outstanding common stock, were validly tendered and not withdrawn in the exchange offer.  All shares that were validly tendered and not withdrawn have been accepted for payment in accordance with the terms of the exchange offer and applicable law.

	Of the shares tendered into the exchange offer, 24,058,187 shares made an election to receive the mixed consideration, 14,035,250 shares made an election to receive the all-cash consideration, 29,315,387 shares made an election to receive the all-stock consideration, and no shares were tendered without a valid election. 

		Pharmacyclics stockholders who elected to receive the mixed consideration will receive the mixed consideration, which consists of 

 in cash and 1.6639 shares of AbbVie common stock per share of Pharmacyclics common stock;

		Pharmacyclics stockholders who elected to receive the all-cash consideration will receive 

 in cash per share of Pharmacyclics common stock; and

		Pharmacyclics stockholders who elected to receive the all-stock consideration will be subject to proration at a rate of approximately 61.66%, and will receive their consideration in the form of 

 in cash for shares not accepted for the all-stock election due to proration and 3.9879 shares of AbbVie common stock per share of Pharmacyclics common stock for shares that were accepted for the all-stock election.

	Pharmacyclics stockholders will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of AbbVie common stock. As a result of the acquisition, shares of Pharmacyclics common stock will cease to be traded on NASDAQ.

	Following its acceptance of the shares tendered in the exchange offer, on 

, AbbVie caused the merger of its subsidiary with and into Pharmacyclics without a vote of Pharmacyclics' other stockholders, pursuant to Section 251(h) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, followed by a merger of Pharmacyclics with and into another AbbVie subsidiary.  As a result of the completed merger, Pharmacyclics became a wholly owned subsidiary of AbbVie.  In connection with the merger, all shares of Pharmacyclics common stock not validly tendered into the exchange offer have been cancelled and converted into the right to receive merger consideration in the same amounts offered in the exchange offer.  Holders of these shares will have the opportunity to elect among the mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration and the all-stock consideration, subject to proration, as described in the prospectus, dated 

, filed by AbbVie in connection with the transaction.

	AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 28,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit 

AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Pharmacyclics, Inc.