With New National Immunisation Programme in Saudi Arabia, Thirty-Five Countries Now Offer Routine Immunisation Against Pneumococcal Disease With Prevenar

MAIDENHEAD, England - Prevenar Helps Protect Children Against the Leading
Vaccine-Preventable Cause of Death in Children Younger than Five Years of Age
Worldwide

Brazilian Federal Agency CAPES Expands Local Research Community Access to Scopus

AMSTERDAM - Elsevier announced today that the Brazilian Federal Agency for the
Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES) is expanding local
research community access to Scopus(R), the company’s flagship product and
the world’s largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed
literature. CAPES, which assists the Brazilian Ministry of Education in the
formulation of national policies related to post-graduate study, will be
making Scopus available to 200 universities and research institutes in
Brazil, up from 44 in 2007.

Sun Pharmaceutical Extends Tender Offer for Taro

MUMBAI - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Reuters: SUN.BO, Bloomberg: SUNP IN,
NSE: SUN PHARMA, BSE: 524715) today announced its subsidiary, Alkaloida
Chemical Company Exclusive Group Ltd. (Alkaloida), has extended the
Expiration Date of the Tender Offer for the purchase of all outstanding
Ordinary Shares of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Taro). The Offer will
now expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Friday, April 3, 2009, unless
further extended or earlier terminated. The Tender Offer was extended to
comply with a continuing order issued by the Supreme Court of Israel
temporarily prohibiting the closing of the Offer until the Supreme Court
issues a decision on the appeal of the litigation commenced against Alkaloida
and its affiliates by Taro and certain of its directors regarding the
applicability of the special tender offer rules under the Israeli Companies
Law to the Offer. The Tel-Aviv District Court had previously ruled in favor
of Sun that a special tender offer was not required.

Palonosetron Warrants Adequate Caloric Intake in Oncology Patients Receiving High Emetogenic Chemotherapy

ZURICH, Switzerland - A new, innovative study shows that a single dose of palonosetron, the
second generation 5-HT3 antagonist, plus dexamethasone not only prevents
chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), but also allows adequate
caloric intake in oncology patients. Data presented today at the ESMO
Symposium on Cancer and Nutrition in Zurich, Switzerland

Shire Files Lawsuit Against Mylan for Infringement of FOSRENOL(R) (Lanthanum Carbonate) Patent

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania and DUBLIN, Ireland - Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY) announces that it has filed a lawsuit
in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York against Mylan
Inc., Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Matrix Laboratories Limited
(collectively “Mylan”) for infringement of Shire’s patent: U.S. Patent No.
5,968,976 (”‘976 Patent”).

Pro-Life Group Calls Amendment to Law on Assisted Suicide Reckless

LONDON - MPs have tabled an amendment seeking to legalise assisting the suicide of
any vulnerable person, not restricted to the terminally ill. The amendment
tabled by Patricia Hewitt and others would legalise helping any vulnerable
person to commit suicide. It would apply to people with disabilities and
those who have degenerative diseases, and these people are the main target of
the amendment, but it is much more wide-ranging.

New Survey Highlights the Significant Impact of the Economic Downturn on Europe’s Sleep

COPENHAGEN - On Average a Quarter of Europeans Surveyed From UK, Portugal, France,
Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland Claim Worsening Quality of Sleep
Thanks to the Economy(1)

Another LNA-based RNA Inhibitor Enters Clinical Trials

COPENHAGEN - EZN3042 - a Survivin Inhibitor Jointly Developed by Enzon
Pharmaceuticals and Santaris Pharma Advances into the Clinic for Patients
With Solid Tumors and Lymphomas

Frost & Sullivan Product Quality Accolade for KIBI Software Solutions

LONDON - The 2009 Frost & Sullivan European Healthcare Document Management
Systems (DMS) Product Quality Leadership Award is presented to KIBI Software
Solutions for continuous product innovation. Uncompromising quality
maintenance, together with exceptional customer support and technological
leadership, contribute to KIBI’s success.

Mycosafe and ViruSure: Two Austrian Biosafety Companies Expand to Asia

VIENNA, Austria and SINGAPORE - Mycoplasma biosafety specialist Mycosafe Diagnostics GmbH and virus and
prion biosafety company ViruSure GmbH - both based in Vienna, Austria - today
announced at BioMedical Asia 2009 that they are to establish a second site in
Singapore as part of a joint venture. This move will ensure that both
companies are in an ideal position to offer the biosafety expertise and
laboratory services so urgently required in the rapidly-expanding
biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in Asia.

Frost & Sullivan Recognises FUJIFILM Corporation’s Outstanding Product Quality Leadership

LONDON - The “2009 European Mammography Systems Product Quality Leadership Award”
is presented to FUJIFILM Corporation in recognition of the exceptional
quality of its Computed Radiography (CR) mammography systems. The company’s
superior quality control, product performance, quality assurance programme
and product manufacturing are also commended.

Frost & Sullivan European Drug Discovery Product Innovation Award Bestowed on Xenometrix AG

LONDON - The 2009 Frost & Sullivan European Drug Discovery Product Innovation
Award is presented to Xenometrix AG in recognition of its active role in the
production of single and multiple endpoint cytotoxicity assays.

InSightec Ltd. Announces US$15 Million Investment Round

TIRAT CARMEL, Israel - InSightec Ltd. reported today that it has closed an internal round of
financing totaling US$15 million from its existing investors.

Occlutech Obtains Favourable Ruling in Proceedings Initiated by AGA Medical

JENA, Germany - Occlutech GmbH today announced that it had defeated a request for
insolvency, launched at the Amtsgericht Gera in Germany by its US competitor
AGA Medical.

The French Institute I-Stem Realizes First Innovative Screens Using Stem Cells to Identify Drugs for Myotonic Dystrophy, DM1 Disease

EVRY, France - Four research teams of I-STEM[*] have joined forces in a collaborative
project that has just achieved a first pilot therapy-oriented screen of
compounds and RNA interference aiming at reversing the altered phenotypes
observed in human embryonic stem cells carrying the mutant gene for myotonic
dystrophy type1. This assay inaugurates a series of R&D planned in 2009.

New Online Imaging Suite Boosts Healthcare Imaging Efficiency, Productivity, and Revenues

ATLANTA, Georgia - MC Strategies’ New Online Solution Meets Research, Education,
Communication and Compliance Challenges of Radiologic Technologists, Managers

Pope Not Infallible on Condoms

WASHINGTON - The Vatican has yet again been forced to revise statements made by Pope
Benedict XVI as he embarked on a foreign trip. En route to Cameroon on March
17, the pope claimed that condom use would “aggravate the problem” of HIV.

Increasing Debt Levels Reduce Self-Confidence

LONDON - www.SurvivingTheCreditCrunch.org.uk Launches New
Stress-Busting Page

We have all heard how confidence has been lost in the
financial markets as a result of recent events in the global banking sector,
but how is that affecting the confidence of the individuals who are having to
live with the consequences? As the recession deepens we are finding many
people are suffering from stress and loss of self-confidence.

Health Robotics Announces European Launch of i.v.STATION(TM) and Global List of 2009 Installations

BOZEN, Italy - Health Robotics today announced the European launch of its i.v.STATION
Robot with a demonstration at the European Association of Hospital
Pharmacists in Barcelona, Spain [Booth 21, Level -1] next week. Health
Robotics also announced an updated list of the i.v.STATION installations
around the world, and the simultaneous showcase of CytoCare(TM), the world’s
only Chemotherapy IV Robot, at the EAHP booth of one of its strategic
partners (B|Braun, Booths C9-C12).

The Need for Safe and Affordable Biopharmaceuticals Drives the Development of the European Biosimilars Market, Says Frost & Sullivan

LONDON - Despite the initial regulatory hiccups, the number of biosimilars in the
European market is set to increase gradually. The patent expiry of key
biopharmaceuticals has opened up numerous lucrative market opportunities,
while driving the development of biosimilars. In addition, payers’ perception
of biosimilars, as viable alternatives to originator drugs due to their
safety, efficacy and affordability, will further bolster market prospects.

FIRMAGON(R) (Degarelix) is Launched in Europe for the Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Today marks the European launch of FIRMAGON(R) (degarelix), a new
treatment option in hormonal therapy for prostate cancer, with details
presented at the 24th Annual European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress
in Stockholm. FIRMAGON(R) is a new GnRH receptor blocker indicated for the
treatment of patients with advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer.

Relsys International Announces the Release of the Argus Safety(TM) Suite 5.0

IRVINE, California - Relsys International today announced the release of the Argus Safety
Suite 5.0, the new standard in global Drug Safety & Risk Management systems.
The Argus Safety Suite 5.0 is a full stack release.

Merck Serono and Fast Forward, LLC Announce Collaboration to Accelerate Development of Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis

GENEVA, Switzerland - Merck Serono and Fast Forward Agree to Work Together to Speed Research
and Development on a Select Group of High Potential MS Research Projects With
Support of up to $19 Million in Funding

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Clears Way for Multi-Center Clinical Trial of IDEV Technologies’ SUPERA Peripheral Stent

HOUSTON - Novel Stent Platform Designed for Radial Strength, Flexibility

IDEV Technologies Incorporated, (IDEV) an emerging leader in the
development and marketing of minimally invasive technologies, announced today
that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an
investigational device exemption (IDE) for a multi-center clinical trial of
its SUPERA stent, a novel stent platform designed for the treatment of
peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). PAD
affects more than 8 million people in the U.S. alone and, by the age of 65,
12-20 percent of the population will develop PAD, according to the American
Heart Association.

Stafford Hospital is a Classic Example of the Government’s ‘Flawed’ NHS Privatisation Policy

LONDON - Stafford Hospital is a classic case of the government’s ‘flawed’
privatisation agenda for the NHS, Unite, the largest union in the country,
said today (Wednesday, 18 March).

PSA Screening Cuts Deaths by 20%, Says World’s Largest Prostate Cancer Study

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Attn: Healthcare Editors

Screening for prostate cancer can reduce deaths by 20%, according to the
results of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer
(ERSPC) published online 1700 hours CET 18 March (NEJM, Online First*). ERSPC
is the world’s largest prostate cancer screening study and provides robust,
independently- audited evidence, for the first time, of the effect of
screening on prostate cancer mortality.

Insulin Pens and Growing Diabetic Community Increase Market for Insulin Delivery Devices in Europe, Says Frost & Sullivan

LONDON - While insulin syringes are the oldest delivery method available, they are
currently experiencing a decline in use in Europe. Several factors have
contributed to this trend, the most important being the high acceptance and
popularity of insulin pens.

The Pope is Wrong on Condoms

WASHINGTON - Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, issued a response to Pope
Benedict’s statement on condom use.

DocCheck Cooperates With European Medical Association

COLOGNE, Germany - Whether for doctor hopping or medical tourism, Europe is becoming
increasingly important for health care. As a result, the German doctors’
portal DocCheck is now cooperating with the European Medical Association
(EMA). The aim: to improve communication between doctors and patient care
providers throughout Europe.

Prizes of the Grand Prix MSOO Award Presented in Moscow

MOSCOW - During the 14th International Salon of Ophthalmologic Optics held at
Expocentre (Moscow) prizes were handed to the nominees of the Second National
Optical Award Grand Prix MSOO.

Shire Withdraws European Application for DAYTRANA(TM) (Methylphenidate Transdermal System)

DUBLIN - Announced Acquisition of EQUASYM(R) IR and XL (Methylphenidate
Hydrochloride) for the Treatment of ADHD Provides Shire Entry to the European
ADHD Market

Shire Files Lawsuit Against Barr Laboratories for Infringement of FOSRENOL(R) (Lanthanum Carbonate) Patents

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania and DUBLIN, Ireland - Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY) announces that it has
filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New
York against Barr Laboratories, Inc. (”Barr”) for infringement of three of
Shire’s patents: U.S. Patent No. 5,968,976 (”‘976 Patent”);U.S. Patent No.
7,381,428 (”‘428″); and U.S. Patent No. 7,465,465 (”‘465″).

New Book Shows Billions are Being Wasted on Statins

LONDON - Millions of people already take a statin to lower their cholesterol and
millions more are about to be prescribed these drugs under current
guidelines. However, a new book provides substantial evidence to show that
most people do not need to lower their cholesterol.

‘New Class’ of Coronary Stent Shows Sustained 12-Month Benefit in the Treatment of De Novo Coronary Lesions

NEWNAN, Georgia - The CATANIA(TM) Coronary Stent System with NanoThin Polyzene(R)-F offers
sustained benefit in the treatment of de novo coronary lesions and maximizes
endothelialization, while reducing restenosis, thrombogenicity, and the need
for long-term dual-antiplatelet therapy. The CATANIA(TM) Stent may be an
alternative to both BMS and DES. These conclusions, based on 12-month data
from the ATLANTA Trial, were published in the latest issue of the Journal of
the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Ipsogen Announces the CE Marking of its “ProfileQuant(R) WT1″ Kit

MARSEILLE, France - WT1 is a Valuable Biomarker in the Prognosis and Follow-up
of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients.