• Pfizer Inc., of New York, said the World Health Organization granted an expansion to the prequalification of Pfizer's pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Prevenar 13 (pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine [13-valent, adsorbed]), to include adults 50 and older against pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the 13 pneumococcal serotypes in the vaccine. In August 2010, Prevenar 13 was prequalified for active immunization of infants and children ages 6 weeks through 5 years against invasive pneumococcal disease, pneumonia and otitis media.

• Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, of Zurich, Switzerland, part of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., completed construction of its pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Yaroslavl, Russia. The company has invested €75 million (US$96.4 million) in the plant, which is expected to be fully operational by 2014.