VENTURE CAPITAL POST

GlaxoSmithKline pledged not to file patents to make drugs more affordable to poor countries. Any GSK drugs that are included in the list of the World Health Organization's important medicines will be included automatically.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) has taken profits in Aspen Pharmacare (APNJ.J) by selling half its stake in the South African drugmaker for $853 million, following a long investment in the firm.

Two new tools to fight AIDS should be available by 2030 in the form of a vaccine and new intense drug treatments, ending most cases of a disease that has killed millions in the past 30 years, Bill Gates said.

GlaxoSmithKline could consider more partial public share offerings for component units as it evolves in the coming years, potentially pointing to a break-up of the group if this offers value to shareholders.

GlaxoSmithKline said on Thursday it had decided not to sell a portfolio of older drugs marketed in North America and Europe after considering offers from potential buyers.

GlaxoSmithKline will this week inform U.S. staff of hundreds of job cuts in its biggest market as the drugmaker starts implementing a major cost-saving program, sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

Britain's biggest drugmaker, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, fired an executive from its South African unit for refusing to appear for a performance review, which was called a week after he complained of racial discrimination in the workplace, Bloomberg reported, citing company documents.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG (NOVN.VX) said three members of its executive committee would leave the company following the completion of transactions with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) and Eli Lilly (LLY.N) to divest three units.

GlaxoSmithKline may have closed one chapter in a saga of corruption allegations by accepting a $489 million fine in China, but the drugmaker has its work cut out to win back skeptical investors.

Boston, Massachusetts-based health startup ZappRx scored a further $1 million in funding to streamline the prescription process for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by becoming their electronic link to the pharmacy.

Sitari Pharmaceuticals, a San Diego, CA-based developer of multiple disease indication treatments with a focus on celiac diseases, raised USD 10 million in Series A funding. The fund would be used to continue supporting research and development of novel treatments for celiac diseases.

The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported on Tuesday including Nokia, IntercontinentalExchange Group, Goldman Sachs and others.

Suntory purchases two GSK drink brands for USD2 billion.

Sources told Reuters that Suntory would be acquiring two drink brands of GlaxoSmithKline in a deal worth more than GBP 1 billion.

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said there was unfair treatment to foreign firms in the China bribery probe.