*Novartis' one-third stake in Roche built up under Vasella. ZURICH, May 16- A changing of the guard at Switzerland's two biggest drugmakers is fuelling talk that Novartis may finally sell its multi-billion-dollar stake in cross-town rival Roche, potentially unlocking value for both sets of shareholders.
The Parsippany, N.J., company's stock had already climbed about 16 percent since last Friday, when Actavis and Irish drugmaker Warner Chilcott PLC said that they were in early talks about a possible combination but had reached no agreement yet. Actavis shares rose 62 cents to $124.50 in premarket trading about 40 minutes ahead of Thursday's market opening.
*Jamil Bouchareb, Daniel Corbin settle civil cases. Jamil Bouchareb agreed to pay about $1.05 million and fellow trader Daniel Corbin agreed to pay about $191,000 in disgorged profit plus interest to settle the SEC's civil cases, after having previously pleaded guilty to related criminal charges.
*FTSEurofirst 300 closes up 0.7 pct at 1,245.66 points. LONDON, May 15- European shares scaled new five-year highs on Wednesday, led by gains for several major Swiss stocks after a fresh fall on the Swiss franc that should continue to buoy the country's exporters.
LONDON, May 15- European shares scaled fresh five-year highs on Wednesday, led by gains for several major Swiss stocks after a currency shift that should continue to buoy the country's exporters. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index provisionally closed up 0.7 percent at 1,245.41 points, its highest level since mid-2008.
European shares were higher in early afternoon trade on Wednesday despite preliminary growth data from the euro zone missing estimates.
*India is largest beneficiary in U.S. trade benefit program. WASHINGTON, May 14- A U.S. think tank on Tuesday recommended Congress suspend trade benefits for India, in the latest sign of U.S. frustration over Indian policies that block American exports and "free ride" on costly U.S. research to develop new medicines and other forms of valuable intellectual property.
*Defensive stocks unusually leading Europe stock rally. LONDON, May 14- Defensive stocks such as healthcare companies, which often bring up the rear when markets rise, have led the gainers in 2013 as European bourses hit their highest in years, suggesting investors don't think the good times will roll for long.
Companies like Pfizer Inc and AstraZeneca have grown dependent on higher U.S. prices to generate profits as generic rivals to their best-selling medicines enter the world market, Europe's government-run health plans clamp down on spending and sales growth in emerging markets stutters.
*BT and Novartis boost telecom and health stocks. LONDON, May 10- European shares scaled fresh five-year highs on Friday, led by telecoms and healthcare stocks, and traders said key indexes had scope for further gains, with any near-term pullback likely to be short-lived.
European shares closed at 5-year highs on Friday, as stocks continued in risk-on mode. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index unofficially closed 0.3 percent higher at 2,781.58 points, its highest level since mid-2008.
LONDON, May 10- European shares scaled fresh five-year highs on Friday, led by healthcare group Novartis and telecoms firm BT on positive corporate news, and traders said key indexes had scope for more gains. I can't see anything to make it go off by too much, "said Darren Courtney-Cook, head of trading at Central Markets Investment Management.
May 9- A senior sales representative for Merck& Co has sued the drugmaker for more than $100 million, alleging it discriminates against female employees in terms of pay and advancement, particularly pregnant employees and women with children.
After approvals last year from the FDA for 39 novel medicines- a record only beaten in 1996- the healthy pace has continued into 2013.. And drugmakers are getting further help from a new FDA program to accelerate life-saving therapies designated as a "breakthrough," opening to door to earlier approval based on quicker studies, where clinical data is compelling.
*Pfizer, Amgen, AstraZeneca among firms placing bets. LONDON, May 3- Is nanomedicine the next big thing? Three deals struck this year by privately held Bind Therapeutics, together worth nearly $1 billion if experiments are successful, highlight a new interest in using such tiny carriers to deliver drug payloads to specific locations in the body.
CHICAGO, May 1- The first-ever drug designed to treat social impairments associated with autism failed to show a benefit in a midstage trial, representing a blow to families and to privately held drugmaker Seaside Therapeutics.
CHICAGO, May 1- The first-ever drug designed to treat social impairments associated with autism failed to show a benefit in a midstage trial, representing a blow to families and to privately held drugmaker Seaside Therapeutics.
Shares in Oxford BioMedica rise 15 percent after the gene-based biopharmaceutical specialist signs a deal to make clinical grade material for Novartis using its gene delivery technology.