AstraZeneca has appointed Pascal Soriot as CEO and executive director of the company’s board of directors, effective Oct. 1, 2012. Simon Lowth will remain as AstraZeneca’s interim CEO until Soriot joins. At that point, Lowth will resume his responsibilities as chief financial officer and will continue to serve as an executive director on the board. Read More

Eli Lilly announced that the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed a prior ruling by the US District Court for the District of Delaware that the company’s compound patent for Alimta (pemetrexed) is valid. The compound patent provides protection for Alimta in the US through January 2017. Read More

The Merck Group has agreed to acquire Biochrom, a German company that specializes in the production and marketing of cell-culture media and buffer solutions. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2012, and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval. Read More

A roundup of additional company and people news from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, their suppliers, and contract-service providers. Read More