NEW YORK (Reuters) – More than 100 years after researchers first explored the potential to harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer, the field’s leading doctors see the concept finally proving itself on a large scale in the next year or two.

Two drugs based on immunotherapy are already available and have met with mixed results. Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Yervoy has been hailed as a major breakthrough for treatment of melanoma since its approval last year, while Dendreon Corp’s (DNDN.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Provenge prostate cancer vaccine has been hampered by management missteps and doctors’ reluctance to adopt the difficult-to-administer therapy after two years on the market.

April 30 (Reuters) – Pharmaceutical wholesaler McKesson Corp
on Monday reported a higher quarterly profit on a 10
percent rise in sales from its core drugs distribution business,
and it issued an earnings forecast for fiscal 2013 in line with
Wall Street estimates.

McKesson forecast adjusted earnings for fiscal 2013 of $7.05
to $7.35 per share. Wall Street on average is estimating $7.19
per share.

By Bill Berkrot

(Reuters) – Specialty pharmaceutical company Warner Chilcott Plc said it would explore strategic options, including preliminary talks with potential buyers, sending its shares up as much as 24 percent.

The company, which makes women’s healthcare and dermatology products and other specialty drugs, said it hired Goldman Sachs as its financial adviser.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Men with erectile dysfunction may not have to plan for sex as far in advance anymore after Vivus Inc won U.S. approval for avanafil, its faster acting rival to Viagra.

Avanafil, which will be sold under the brand name Stendra, is the first new drug in the category in a decade.

By Bill Berkrot

(Reuters) – Mylan Inc (MYL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), one of the world’s largest generic drugmakers, posted higher quarterly profit and sales, helped by the introduction of its version of antidepressant Lexapro and other products.

Mylan also said on Thursday that it plans to launch its generic version of the big-selling cholesterol fighter Lipitor in the latter part of the current quarter.

By Lewis Krauskopf and Bill Berkrot

(Reuters) – Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Wednesday it agreed to buy Actavis Group for at least 4.25 billion euros ($5.60 billion), in a deal that cements its status as one of the world’s biggest suppliers of generic drugs and expands its international presence.

Reuters first reported on March 21 that U.S.-based Watson was close to buying the Swiss drugmaker to help it compete more effectively against rivals Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and the Novartis unit Sandoz.

April 25 (Reuters) – Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc said
on Wednesday it agreed to buy Actavis Group for at least 4.25
billion euros ($5.60 billion), in a deal that cements its status
as one of the world’s biggest suppliers of generic drugs and
expands its international presence.

Reuters first reported on March 21 that U.S.-based Watson
was close to buying the Swiss drugmaker to help it compete more
effectively against rivals Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
and the Novartis unit Sandoz.

April 25 (Reuters) – Laboratory equipment maker Thermo
Fisher Scientific Inc reported a higher-than-expected
first-quarter profit on Wednesday on increased sales of
analytical instruments.

The company slightly raised its full-year forecast and its
shares rose more than 4 percent.

By Bill Berkrot

(Reuters) – Human Genome Sciences Inc (HGSI.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), which rebuffed an unsolicited $2.6 billion takeover bid by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), said on Tuesday it was reviewing strategic alternatives, including the sale of the company.

Human Genome said it would not comment on the process, but reiterated that Glaxo’s $13 per share offer was not sufficient and failed to account for the inherent value of the company’s pharmaceutical assets.

By Bill Berkrot

(Reuters) – Illumina Inc (ILMN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), which has fended off a hostile takeover bid by Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding (ROG.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) for now, on Monday reported a higher-than-expected first-quarter profit and maintained its full-year forecast.

Illumina management said it was very pleased with the first-quarter results “in view of the potential distraction from the Roche tender offer.”