Sector: Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology and Life Sciences

CVS Caremark fourth-quarter earnings climbed nearly 4 percent, as the drugstore operator's pharmacy services revenue swelled because of a long-term contract and new business.

Merck on Thursday reported weaker-than-expected quarterly sales and predicted relatively flat 2012 results as the No. 2 drugmaker girds for cheaper generic forms of its biggest product, asthma drug Singulair.

Health insurer Aetna posted a sharply higher quarterly profit in line with Wall Street's target as its members' low use of health services kept its claim costs down.

Pfizer's reported sharply lower quarterly earnings, hurt by generic forms of its Lipitor cholesterol drug, and the company trimmed its 2012 forecasts because of negative effects of the stronger dollar.

Eli Lilly quarterly profit dropped 27 percent after its top-selling Zyprexa schizophrenia treatment lost U.S. patent protection and saw competition from generic rivals.

Paula Deen has been teaching comfort food cooks since 2002. On January 17, 2012, she announced her diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. She also announced that she had become the spokesperson for the anti-diabetes drug Victoza. However, she’s hardly the only celebrity chef to make a questionable endorsement deal.

Swiss drugs industry supplier Lonza kicked out chief executive Stefan Borgas after profits for 2011 plunged by a third and said 2012 was set to pose further challenges because of the difficulties faced by pharmaceutical firms.

Swiss drugmaker Roche said it is offering about $5.7 billion cash to buy U.S. gene sequencing device maker Illumina to boost its position in the life sciences and diagnostics business, in a potentially hostile takeover bid.

The company reported quarterly earnings that beat analysts' expectations but issued guidance that disappointed traders, sending its shares briefly lower in pre-market trading on Tuesday.

Americans have not increased spending on healthcare since 2009, according to a National Health Expenditures report.

In the first full year without exclusive rights to its Zyprexa schizophrenia treatment, the pharmaceutical company is projecting a decline in profit for 2012. 

Pharmaceutical giants’ profits could take a "double-dip" hit next year from patent expirations on blockbuster drugs and President Barack Obama’s healthcare reforms, according to a report from CreditSights, a credit market research firm.

AstraZeneca will take a $381.5 million pre-tax charge in the fourth quarter following a double blow to its new drug pipeline, Britain's second-biggest pharmaceuticals company said on Tuesday

Amgen, the world's largest biotechnology company, said long-time Chief Executive Kevin Sharer will retire next May and be replaced by Chief Operating Officer Bob Bradway.

Gilead Sciences Inc said it agreed to buy Pharmasset Inc for $11 billion in cash to expand its hepatitis portfolio.