21.  Norwegian pharmaceutical group Hafslund Nycomed and the American IVAX group have cancelled their merger plan and replaced it with a strategic alliance, the two groups said Wednesday.

22.  Norwegian pharmaceutical group Hafslund Nycomed has signed an agreement with Chinese pharmaceutical group Huai Hai for production and sale of medical imaging products, Hafslund Nycomed said Thursday.

23.  Pharmaceutical group Zeneca was again the object of wagers on a possible alliance or merger with European competitor Bayer, of Germany.

24.  Roche and Chugai announced last December they would merge Nippon Roche and Chugai to create the fourth-biggest Japanese pharmaceutical group.

25.  Swedish pharmaceutical group Pharmacia is preparing the Australian launch of a new anti-peptic ulcer preparation after winning a legal battle over the product, the group announced Monday.

26.  Stern said one of the German companies targeted in the lawsuit was the Degussa pharmaceutical group.

27.  Swedish car maker Volvo will sell two-thirds of its shares in the Swedish-American pharmaceutical group Pharmacia-Upjohn, Volvo said Tuesday.

28.  Swedish pharmaceutical group Pharmacia has received US approval for Fragmin, a preparation that prevents blood clots, Pharmacia announced on Wednesday.

29.  The Commission held that the two partners faced competition from other big pharmaceutical groups.

30.  The European Commission announced Thursday that the planned acquisition of British pharmaceutical group Fisons by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer does not raise any competition problems.