Faces, the leading beauty destination for all of your fragrance, skincare and makeup desires presents you with an array of fragrances this Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day is a day of sharing with loved ones, a day of pampering and telling those that are close to you how much they mean to you.

What better than the gift of Beauty to express your love and care?! At Faces, we have the newest romantic and feminine fragrances to offer to your loved ones and show them how special they are…and why not pick up a little something for yourself as well?

Play Sport by Givenchy

An emblematic sport fragrance. Boosted by the spicy freshness of citrus, mint and ginger, Play Sport’s heart notes of Amyris wood recall the sensuality and manliness of the PLAY franchise.

Hot water by Davidoff

Herein lays an erotic masculine virtue and a sensual warmth. The vibrant Red Basil and Absinthe top-note thrillingly grounded by the genuine class of Wormwood. An amatory heart-note of burning Pimento. An ultra-masculine dry-down of Benzoin Siam. Hot Water is fresh, spicy and jubilant.

Romantina by Juliette Has a Gun

Romantina is a musky composition in which we have delicately laid a bouquet of white flowers. An ode to Insouciance…Where Orange Blossom impulsively marries Jasmine; the Rose passionately blends with Iris and Osmanthus.

CH by Carolina Herrera

Fresh and floral! This is how Carolina likes to define her creation!

Nina L’Elixir by Nina Ricci

Nina L’Elixirevokes the rare and luxurious essence of a love potion, concentrated in an Eau de Parfum. An intense reinterpretation of Nina Eau de Toilette.

Lacoste Joy of Pink

The LACOSTE Pink woman exudes an aura of feel good, youthful optimism, and Joy Of Pink is the ideal fragrance to awaken the happiness and confidence she feels in social situations with her closest companions.

Chopard Happy Spirit Elixir D’Amour

Fullness and femininity are the signatures of the Happy Spirit Elixir D’Amour fragrance – a lush floral composition in which the voluptuous heart note of nobleJasmine Sambac is enlightened by delicate touches of Yellow Freesia, and rounded outby a lingering dry-down of Amber, White Musk and Cashmere Wood.

Discover these and other Beauty treats at Faces this Valentine’s Day!

Faces…your Beauty Vibes

Contacts

Joyce Amil

Euro RSCG Corporate Communications

joyce.amil@eurorscgme.com

Tel: +97 1 4 455 6000

Phase III soft tissue sarcoma trial ongoing; randomized Phase II pancreatic cancer trial expected to report in February 2012
Deal provides Threshold with an upfront payment of € 19 million ($25 million), plus further potential milestones and royalties as well as an option to co-commercialize in the United States

-(BUSINESS WIRE)– Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that a global agreement was signed with Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., South San Francisco, to co-develop and commercialize TH-302, Threshold’s small molecule hypoxia-targeted drug. TH-302 is currently being investigated in a global Phase III clinical trial in patients with soft tissue sarcoma, a randomized Phase II trial in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer from which top-line results are expected in February, as well as additional clinical studies in other solid tumors and hematological malignancies.

Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will receive co-development rights, exclusive global commercialization rights and will provide Threshold an option to co-commercialize the therapeutic in the United States. In exchange, Threshold will receive an upfront payment of € 19 million ($25 million) and could receive up to € 26.5 million ($35 million) in additional development milestones during 2012. Threshold is also eligible to receive a € 15 million ($20 million) milestone payment based on positive results from its randomized Phase II trial in pancreatic cancer.

In the United States, Threshold will have primary responsibility for development of TH-302 in the soft tissue sarcoma indication. Threshold and Merck KGaA will jointly develop TH-302 in all other cancer indications being pursued. Merck KGaA will pay 70% of worldwide development costs for TH-302.

Subject to FDA approval in the United States, Merck KGaA will initially be responsible for commercialization of TH-302 with Threshold receiving a tiered, double-digit royalty on sales. Under the royalty-bearing portion of the agreement, Threshold retains the option to co-promote TH-302 in the United States. Additionally, Threshold retains the option to co-commercialize TH-302 allowing the company to participate in up to 50% of the profits in the United States, based on certain revenue tiers. Outside of the United States, Merck KGaA will be solely responsible for the commercialization of TH-302 with Threshold receiving a tiered, double-digit royalty on sales in these territories.

“The addition of TH-302 to our pipeline provides an important opportunity in several different tumor types to expand our oncology development program,” said Susan Jane Herbert, Head of Global Business Development and Strategy, Merck Serono. “Given the fact that pancreatic cancer is a very difficult to treat indication, successful Phase II results could represent important upside for our company.”

“We are excited by the new resources that our partnership is going to bring to the development of TH-302, and the expertise in clinical development and commercialization that Merck will contribute to this program,” said Barry Selick, President and CEO of Threshold. “This collaboration provides Threshold a strong and committed partner with a shared vision for TH-302.”

TH-302 is a hypoxia-targeted drug that is thought to be activated under tumor hypoxic conditions, a hallmark for many cancer indications. Areas of low oxygen levels (hypoxia) within tissues are common in many solid tumors due to insufficient blood vessel growth. Similarly, the bone marrow of patients with hematological malignancies has also been shown, in some cases, to be extremely hypoxic.

TH-302 has been investigated in over 550 patients in Phase I/II clinical trials to date in a broad spectrum of tumor types, both as a monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy treatments and other targeted cancer drugs.

Threshold has several ongoing clinical trials including, but not limited to: a controlled Phase II trial of TH-302 in combination with gemcitabine versus gemcitabine alone in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and a Phase III study evaluating TH-302 in combination with doxorubicin versus doxorubicin alone in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

TH-302 development in soft tissue sarcoma

A Phase III trial of TH-302 in patients with first-line advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) was initiated in September, 2011, based on results from a Phase I/II trial investigating its use in combination with the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin. This randomized, multi-center Phase III trial will investigate the use of TH-302 plus doxorubicin compared with doxorubicin alone. The primary efficacy endpoint is overall survival. The study is conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is being run in partnership with the Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration (SARC) and aims to enroll 450 patients with metastatic or locally advanced unresectable STS.

TH-302 development in pancreatic cancer

Results from a randomized, controlled, multi-center Phase II trial of TH-302 in patients with first-line pancreatic cancer are expected to be announced in February, 2012. This trial of 214 previously untreated patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma started in June, 2010, and completed enrollment in June, 2011. Two different doses of TH-302 in combination with the chemotherapeutic gemcitabine were compared to gemcitabine alone, with progression free survival (PFS) as the primary endpoint.

Soft tissue sarcoma

STS refers to a heterogeneous and relatively rare group of tumors that develops in the soft, supporting tissues of the body. It can occur in any of the tissues that support, surround or protect the organs of the body, such as muscle, fat, nerves, tendons and ligaments or blood vessels. It can also develop in specific organs including, for example, the uterus, stomach, skin and small bowel. Occasionally it occurs in the head and neck. Adult STS is rare, with an estimated average incidence of 4 in 100,000 cases in Europe annually.1 In the United States, there were an estimated 10,980 new cases and 3,920 deaths from STS in 2011.2 STS tends to occur in people over the age of 30, although certain types of sarcoma can develop more commonly in children and teenagers.3 Current treatment options for STS include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, although response rates are generally low and side effects can be significant.

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is considered fairly rare, particularly in younger people. The most common symptoms are pain in the upper abdomen, weight loss, and jaundice. Current treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It is estimated that approximately 279,000 cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed worldwide in 2008.4

References

1 Casali, PG et al on behalf of the ESMO Guidelines Working Group. Ann Oncol. 2010;20(4):iv132-iv136

2.National Cancer Institute. Snapshot of Sarcoma. 2011; http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/servingpeople/snapshots/sarcoma.pdf. Last accessed January 13, 2011.

3.Macmillan Cancer Support: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Softtissuesarcomas/Softtissuesarcomas.aspx. Last accessed January 16, 2011.

4. GLOBOCAN 2008. World estimated cancer incidence, all ages: both sexes. http://globocan.iarc.fr/summary_table_pop.asp?selection=221900&title=World&age_from=1&age_to=10&sex=0&type=0&PDF=1&window=1&sort=0&submit=%A0Execute%A0Last accessed February 1, 2012.

About Threshold Pharmaceuticals

Threshold is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of drugs targeting tumor hypoxia, the low oxygen condition found in microenvironments of most solid tumors as well as the bone marrows of patients with some hematologic malignancies. For additional information, please visit the company’s website: www.thresholdpharm.com.

About Merck Serono

Merck Serono is the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription medicines of both chemical and biological origin in specialist indications. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono operates as a separately incorporated affiliate of Merck Serono.

Merck Serono has leading brands serving patients with cancer (Erbitux®, cetuximab), multiple sclerosis (Rebif®, interferon beta-1a), infertility (Gonal-f®, follitropin alfa), endocrine and metabolic disorders (Saizen® and Serostim®, somatropin), (Kuvan®, sapropterin dihydrochloride), (Egrifta®, tesamorelin), as well as cardiometabolic diseases (Glucophage®, metformin), (Concor®, bisoprolol), (Euthyrox®, levothyroxine). Not all products are available in all markets.

With an annual R&D expenditure of over € 1bn, Merck Serono is committed to growing its business in specialist-focused therapeutic areas including neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as new areas potentially arising out of research and development in rheumatology.

About Merck

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of € 9.3 billion in 2010, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by more than 40,000 employees in 67 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck’s operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.

For more information, please visit www.merckserono.comor www.merckgroup.com

Contacts

Dr. Raphaela Farrenkopf

Phone +49 6151-72 2274

raphaela.farrenkopf@merckgroup.com

MANSFIELD, Mass. – Monday, January 30th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Covidien (NYSE:COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced that the Solitaire™ FR Revascularization Device has been approved for investigational use in the Interventional Management of Stroke (IMS III) trial. The Solitaire FR device was approved by the IMS III Executive Committee in the thrombectomy arm of the trial and was included in a recently approved amendment submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The IMS III Trialwill compare a combined intravenous (IV) and intra-arterial (IA) treatment approach to restoring blood flow to the brain to the current standard FDA-approved treatment approach of giving IV rTPA alone. A projected 900 subjects with moderate to severe ischemic stroke will be enrolled at over 50 centers in the United States, Canada, Australia and potentially Europe.The Executive Committee approved the Solitaire FR device to ensure that the study and patients have the most advanced treatment technologies to help determine the role of endovascular therapy in acute ischemic stroke.

“We are excited to include the Solitaire FR Revascularization Device in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-funded IMS III trial. The addition of the device will help to expedite the completion of this critical trial,” said Dr. Joseph Broderick, IMS III Principal Investigator, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati.

Outside the United States, the Solitaire FR device has become the leading technology for the endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke, providing stroke physicians with an innovative treatment technology over the existing options. The high success rate, fast procedure time and ease of use experienced by physicians in Europe and other regions who have used the device led physicians to request that it be included in the IMS III Trial.

“The Solitaire FR is the first stent-based mechanical thrombectomy device allowed into the study by IMS III investigators,” said Mark A. Turco, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Vascular Therapies, Covidien. “We look forward to the important results that will follow from this study around the optimal treatment of acute ischemic stroke.”

ABOUT COVIDIEN

Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2011 revenue of $11.6 billion, Covidien has 41,000 employees worldwide in more than 65 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit www.covidien.comto learn more about our business.

Contacts

Vascular Therapies

Rachel Bloom-Baglin, 508-261-6651

Vice President, Communications

rachel.bloombaglin@covidien.com

Bruce Farmer, 508-452-4372

Vice President

Public Relations

bruce.farmer@covidien.com

Cole Lannum, CFA, 508-452-4343

Vice President

Investor Relations

cole.lannum@covidien.com

Todd Carpenter, 508-452-4363

Director

Investor Relations

todd.carpenter@covidien.com

(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Belgian Biotech Company Delphi Genetics SA is proud to announce the launch of a newly-funded project. Together with academic and Biotech key-players, the company will participate in the development of DNA vaccines using the Staby® technology (antibiotic-free) during the next 3 years. The objective of the project funded by the Walloon region (BioWin project, 2.3 M €) is to develop and produce antibiotic-free DNA vaccines targeting some veterinary diseases.

The project also involves Eurogentec SA, another Belgian Biotech company (part of Kaneka) in charge of large scale DNA production and purification, and two universities: the Catholic University of Louvain in charge of the pharmaceutical and toxicity aspects of the project and the University of Liège in charge of the vaccinology and veterinary issues. “All partners complement one another perfectly” said Cédric Szpirer, CEO and Head of R&D of Delphi Genetics SA and explained:

“Today vaccination is an uncontested way of fighting disease. DNA vaccination seems to be a particularly promising method at this time, especially in the case of veterinary diseases. However, antibiotic-resistance genes are conventionally used during the construction of DNA vaccines but the resistance is increasingly less tolerated by regulatory agencies (FDA, USDA and EMA). In the context of this project, we propose to replace the antibiotic-resistance gene by the Staby® technology developed by Delphi Genetics and already used for production of recombinant proteins (higher yields and no antibiotics) In order to show the efficiency of our technology, we will develop new veterinary vaccines, we will validate that the method is usable for high scale DNA production and we will show its innocuousness.”

About Delphi Genetics

Founded at the end of 2001, Delphi Genetics SA develops technologies for genetic engineering and protein expression by using unique expertise in the domain of plasmid stabilisation systems.

Since 2004, Delphi Genetics has been marketing innovative kits for researchers. Some of these kits contain technologies that have since been licensed for industrial applications; in 2009 Delphi Genetics announced a non-exclusive licence agreement with Sanofi-Pasteur, the human vaccine division of Sanofi and a non-exclusive agreement with GSK in 2010. These agreements allow Sanofi-Pasteur and GSK to apply the StabyExpress® technology in the production of recombinant proteins, thus enabling them to produce a high yield without using antibiotics.

For more information, visit our website: www.delphigenetics.com

Contacts

Delphi Genetics SA

Philippe Gabant

delphigenetics@delphigenetics.com

Tel: +32 71 25 10 00

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Pantene, the world’s leading haircare brand, today announced it will support 11 elite female athletes as its newest beauty ambassadors. The group will be featured in Pantene’s first global marketing campaign to support the Olympic Games. The athletes will provide proof that, regardless of their training for the Olympic Games, Pantene’s performance helps give them beautiful hair.

The sponsorship is part of P&G’s Worldwide Olympic Partner status with the London 2012 Olympic Games and marks the first time Pantene has featured athletes as beauty ambassadors. The group will join the likes of celebrities such as Liv Tyler and Eva Mendes, who are featured in Pantene’s iconic campaigns. Among the athletes are six Olympic gold medalists, numerous world champions and top ranked women in swimming, tennis, gymnastics, cycling, diving and volleyball.

“I spend hours in the pool and I want my hair to look beautiful,” said 11-time U.S. Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin, one of the Pantene-sponsored athletes. “I trust Pantene to make my hair look great so I can concentrate on training.”

“We believe that healthy is the new beautiful and we’re thrilled to add this exceptional group to our select list of global beauty ambassadors. These women are a wonderful fit with our heritage of performance and shine,” said Hanneke Faber, Vice President and Brand Franchise Leader, Global Haircare at P&G. “Their hair is easily some of the most challenged on the planet and Pantene can take on the task. Our products are designed to perform under demanding conditions.”

Pantene’s athlete roster includes*:

Jaqueline Carvalho

Brazil

Volleyball

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games gold medalist and Brazilian National Team striker

Natalie Coughlin

United States

Swimming

11-time Olympic medalist and multiple international competition medalist

Gisela Dulko

Argentina

Tennis

Top ranked global doubles player

Paola Espinosa

Mexico

Diving

Two-time Olympian and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist

Evgeniya Kanaeva

Russia

Rhythmic Gymnastics

2008 Olympic gold medalist

Wu Minxia

China

Diving

Two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion

Victoria Pendleton

Great Britain

Cycling

Olympic gold medalist and eight-time world champion

Annamay Pierse

Canada

Swimming

Olympian and world record holder in the 200m breast stroke

Aya Terakawa

Japan

Swimming

International competition medalist and Athens 2004 Olympic Games participant

*Additional athletes to be named later

The Pantene campaign leading up to and during London 2012 includes holistic and integrated support in advertising, retail, online and PR channels. It is part of P&G’s Worldwide Olympic Partner status, which is anchored by the ‘Thank You, Mom’ campaign for the London 2012 Olympic Games. P&G’s ‘Thank You Mom’ campaign will help improve life for moms around the world and provide support for the moms of the Pantene athletes and the moms of thousands of other Olympians. For more information on the brand’s activities, visit www.pantene.com.

About P&G

P&G touches and improves the lives of about 4.4 billion people around the world with its portfolio of trusted, quality brands. The Company’s leadership brands include Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Fairy®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun®, Fusion®, Ace®, Febreze®, and Ambi Pur®. With operations in about 80 countries, P&G brands are available in more than 180 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.comfor the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50145935&lang=en

Photo Captions:

Image 1: Pantene, the world’s leading haircare brand, will support 11 elite female athletes as its newest beauty ambassadors. The group will be featured in Pantene’s first global marketing campaign to support the Olympic Games. The athletes will provide proof that, regardless of their training for the Olympic Games, Pantene’s performance helps give them beautiful hair. (Photo: Business Wire)

Image 2: Pantene, the world’s leading haircare brand, will support 11 elite female athletes as its newest beauty ambassadors. The group will be featured in Pantene’s first global marketing campaign to support the Olympic Games. The athletes will provide proof that, regardless of their training for the Olympic Games, Pantene’s performance helps give them beautiful hair. (Photo: Business Wire)

Image 3: Pantene, the world’s leading haircare brand, will support 11 elite female athletes as its newest beauty ambassadors. The group will be featured in Pantene’s first global marketing campaign to support the Olympic Games. The athletes will provide proof that, regardless of their training for the Olympic Games, Pantene’s performance helps give them beautiful hair. (Photo: Business Wire)

Image 4: Pantene, the world’s leading haircare brand, will support 11 elite female athletes as its newest beauty ambassadors. The group will be featured in Pantene’s first global marketing campaign to support the Olympic Games. The athletes will provide proof that, regardless of their training for the Olympic Games, Pantene’s performance helps give them beautiful hair. (Photo: Business Wire)

Image 5: Pantene, the world’s leading haircare brand, will support 11 elite female athletes as its newest beauty ambassadors. The group will be featured in Pantene’s first global marketing campaign to support the Olympic Games. The athletes will provide proof that, regardless of their training for the Olympic Games, Pantene’s performance helps give them beautiful hair. (Photo: Business Wire)

Image 6: Pantene, the world’s leading haircare brand, will support 11 elite female athletes as its newest beauty ambassadors. The group will be featured in Pantene’s first global marketing campaign to support the Olympic Games. The athletes will provide proof that, regardless of their training for the Olympic Games, Pantene’s performance helps give them beautiful hair. (Photo: Business Wire)

Contacts

Pantene

Randall Chinchilla, +1-513-626-5665

+1-513-780-7720

chinchilla.r@pg.com

Taylor

Mari Rella, +1-212-714-5744

+1-516-316-4611

mrella@taylorstrategy.com

(BUSINESS WIRE)– BIOTRONIK, a worldwide leader in manufacturing cardiac medical devices and pioneer of remote patient management solutions, today announced it has successfully completed its final interoperability testing process for BIOTRONIKHome Monitoring®, an Internet-based system for patient and implantable cardiac device information.

IHE “Connectathon”

During the week of January 9, 2012, BIOTRONIK participated in the “Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise” (IHE) North American Connectathon in Chicago, Illinois, to test its implantable device cardiac observation (IDCO) profile. This testing1 demonstrated the ability of BIOTRONIKHome Monitoring® to connect to third-party electronic health record (EHR) systems and cardiovascular data management systems using defined industry standards. The connecting technology from the BIOTRONIKHome Monitoring® system to the EHRs is called BIOTRONIK EHR DataSync®.

The conclusion from this successful testing is that BIOTRONIK EHR DataSync® will enable physicians and hospitals to share data seamlessly, which should increase productivity, eliminate redundant medical device management systems and improve clinical decision making and quality of care. In this round of testing, BIOTRONIK proved the ability of BIOTRONIK EHR DataSync® to connect with widely implemented EHR vendor systems (e.g., Epic and Medical Micrographics), as well as emerging and established cardiovascular data management systems (e.g., ScottCare’s OneView™ CRM).

The IHE developed their testing process to promote the adoption of standards that enable healthcare information to be shared seamlessly across clinical settings. The IHE’s goals are to drive standards for interoperability, to increase efficiency, and to reduce costs to healthcare customers, such as those in the cardiology, radiology and laboratory markets.

About BIOTRONIK EHR DataSync®

Implantable cardiac devices are also designed to capture and record information about medical device performance and patient heart rhythms that is vital to patient care.BIOTRONIKHome Monitoring® quickly organizes this information and allows data to be sent directly and securely to a clinic’s or a hospital’s EHR system. That data is then available to include in the patient’s personal health record.

“Electronic health records support efficient access to important patient healthcare information, so making this data readily available via secure data transport is vital,” said Jake Langer, President of BIOTRONIK, Inc. “Streamlined connectivity to critical device and lead data is an increasingly important priority for physicians and the broader U.S. healthcare network, and therefore BIOTRONIK made it a priority too. This demonstration of our system’s broad capabilities proves BIOTRONIK’s willingness and ability to provide yet another breakthrough, best-in-class innovation in accessing patient information.”

Data integrity is guaranteed and has been proven through validation testing. Data security is ensured by using U.S. Commerce Department encryption methods. In addition, the BIOTRONIKHome Monitoring® system adheres to patient privacy standards and requirements for the electronic transmission of health information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) standards.

About BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring®

BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring® is the first and only remote patient management system with FDA approval to replace device interrogation during in-office follow-up visits. BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring® allows for the safe reduction of conventional clinic follow-up visits and early detection of patient clinical events, based on results of the TRUST landmark trial.2–3

The system is unique because it allows continuous, automatic, wireless remote monitoring of patient and device status with daily updates—all independent from any patient interaction.

With immediate access to patient information through the secure BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring® website, physicians can remotely monitor and assess patient device data and determine the level of care needed. Alert notifications can be customized to fit each clinic’s workflow, helping to optimize clinic efficiency.

BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring® has pioneered advances in remote patient management since its first U.S. clinical application in 2001. Today, BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring® is extensively used with a growing number of patients in more than 3,800 clinics and 55 countries worldwide.

About BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cardiovascular medical devices, with several million devices implanted, BIOTRONIK is represented in over 100 countries by its global workforce of over 5,600 employees. Known for having its finger on the pulse of the medical community, BIOTRONIK assesses the challenges physicians face, and provides the best solutions for all phases of patient care, ranging from diagnosis to treatment to patient management. Quality, innovation and reliability define BIOTRONIK and its growing success, and deliver confidence and peace of mind to physicians and their patients worldwide.

More information:www.biotronik.com

References:

1 Data on file.

2 Varma N et al., Circulation, 2010, 122, 325–332.

3 Varma N et al., Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol, 2010, 3:428–436.

Upon publication, please provide us with a copy.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50145161&lang=en

Contacts

BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG

Sandy Hathaway

Senior Director, Global Communications

Tel. +49-(0)-30-68905-1602

Email: sandy.hathaway@biotronik.com

Top leaders gather to celebrate 45 years of fulfilling dreams

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Oriflame (STO:ORISDB), the international beauty company selling direct, has announced the launch of its 45th anniversary celebrations at its Diamond Conference in Rio de Janeiro. Over 1,000 participants including Oriflame’s top Leaders have gathered for the occasion, taking place 23 – 26 January. The conference is the first in a series of landmark events this year and the theme is “45 Years of Fulfilling Dreams”, reflecting Oriflame’s life-long business mission.

“My brother Jonas and I dreamed of success and we’re overwhelmed when we look at the company’s achievements,” said Oriflame co-founder Robert af Jochnick. “However, what really makes me happy is the lives we’ve helped change. Oriflame’s business opportunity has enabled so many people to fulfill their dreams – they’ve put their children through school, had the chance to become entrepreneurs and grow as individuals. This is such an inspiration to Jonas and me as we celebrate our 45th anniversary.”

Oriflame has grown to become a major beauty company selling direct and, as it celebrates its history, is continuing to take positive action for the future.

“Oriflame’s success is based on our ability to innovate and inspire consultants and customers,” said CEO Magnus Brännström. “2012 is no exception. We have strong product launches and we are planning for the future with our Sustainability measures, both when it comes to launching our most ethically and environmentally aware product range and in the steps we are taking for our planet, our people and our communities.”

Oriflame’s anniversary celebrations will culminate this summer. In August, 5,000 of Oriflame’s Leaders from around the world will meet in Stockholm, the company’s birthplace, for its Gold Conference. Here spectacular celebrations and one or two surprises await them.

About Oriflame

Founded in 1967, Oriflame is a beauty company selling direct in more than 60 countries. Its wide portfolio of Swedish, nature-inspired, innovative beauty products is marketed through around 3.6 million independent Consultants, generating annual sales exceeding €1.5 billion.

Respect for people and nature underlie Oriflame’s operating principles and are reflected in its social and environmental policies. Oriflame supports numerous charities worldwide and is a Co-founder of the World Childhood Foundation. Oriflame Cosmetics is listed on the Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange.

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Contacts

Oriflame

Nilgun Carlson

Senior Corporate Communications Manager

+46 8 586 32816

nilgun.carlson@oriflame.com

MIAMI – Tuesday, January 24th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Covidien (NYSE:COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, today released the results of the DEFINITIVE Ca++ study. DEFINITIVE Ca++ assessed the safety and effectiveness of the SilverHawk™ LS-C/TurboHawk™ Peripheral Plaque Excision Systems when used in conjunction with the SpiderFX™ Embolic Protection System to treat moderate to severely calcified lesions in the femoropopliteal artery. These calcified lesions are a form of Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.).

The study was reported by Daniel Clair, MD, Co-National Principal Investigator, Department Chair, Vascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner College of Medicine. Dr. Clair presented the study during the Proffered Papers / Late Breaking Trials Session at the International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy(ISET) Conference here.

The study confirmed difficult lesions can be treated safely and effectively with the TurboHawk and SpiderFX Devices. A total of 133 patients (168 lesions) were enrolled in this study. The degree of vessel narrowing was 76.5 percent and 80.0 percent of patients had compromised outflow at the time of the procedure. Severe calcification was noted in 81.0 percent of lesions and 17.9 percent were completely blocked. The rate of stent use was 4.1 percent. Per core laboratory assessment, the primary effectiveness endpoint (defined as less than or equal to 50.0 percent residual diameter stenosis) was achieved in 92.0 percent of lesions; per site assessment, it was achieved in 97.0 percent of lesions.

“The SpiderFX device was user-friendly and effective, and the TurboHawk device was very successful in tackling complex, calcified superficial femoral artery/popliteal disease,” said David Roberts, MD, Co-National Principal Investigator, Medical Director of the Sutter Heart and Vascular Institute, Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, CA. “The result was great, safe revascularization outcomes.”

The 30-day freedom from major adverse event rate (MAE) was 93.1 percent, with no death, amputation, pseudo-aneurysm, or clinically-driven target vessel revascularization; three distal embolizations occurred and all three were treated without clinical sequelae. The data demonstrated a low 30-day MAE rate, a low bail-out stent rate, and a high rate of successful revascularization.

P.A.D. is one of the most common vascular diseases and occurs when leg arteries become narrowed or blocked by plaque. These blockages can result in severe leg pain for patients, limited physical mobility and non-healing leg ulcers. According to the American Heart Association, approximately 10 million people in the U.S. suffer from P.A.D.

“This study is just one aspect of the Covidien DEFINITIVE Trial Series, which is focused on demonstrating the efficacy of plaque excision as a safe and effective option in the treatment of P.A.D.,” said Stacy Enxing Seng, President, Vascular Therapies, Covidien. “The results are promising in this large cohort of patients with advanced disease in challenging lesions.”

ABOUT COVIDIEN

Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2011 revenue of $11.6 billion, Covidien has 41,000 employees worldwide in more than 65 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit www.covidien.comto learn more about our business.

Contacts

Covidien

Rachel Bloom-Baglin, 508-261-6651

Vice President, Communications

Vascular Therapies

rachel.bloombaglin@covidien.com

Bruce Farmer, 508-452-4372

Vice President

Public Relations

bruce.farmer@covidien.com

Cole Lannum, CFA, 508-452-4343

Vice President

Investor Relations

cole.lannum@covidien.com

Todd Carpenter, 508-452-4363

Director

Investor Relations

todd.carpenter@covidien.com

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Monday, January 23rd 2012 [ME NewsWire]

Arab Health Exhibition and Congress

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Welch Allyn, a leading global provider of medical diagnostic devices headquartered in Skaneateles Falls, NY, will showcase its newest generation of connected solutions designed to address the needs of busy medical practices this week at Arab Health 2012 in Dubai. Designed to swiftly gather accurate patient data and transmit it to an electronic medical record (EMR), the new platform-based Welch Allyn Connex® Integrated Wall System (IWS), Welch Allyn Connex® Electronic Vitals Documentation (EVD) Systemand Welch Allyn Connex® ProBP™ 3400digital blood pressure device will be on display in hall SAEED 1, B60. Welch Allyn also announced plans to open a new office in Dubai in early 2012 that will serve as its Middle East headquarters.

By expanding its presence in the United Arab Emirates, the company will be in a stronger position to offer clinicians in the region products with customizable, easy-to-use features and options that improve access to information needed to provide the best patient care. According to Hisham Hout, senior vice president, Europe and Middle East at Welch Allyn, the solutions Welch Allyn will feature at Arab Health this week are a direct result of the growing demand for connected and configurable solutions that anticipate and respond to unique healthcare provider needs in the Middle East.

“This week at Arab Health we’ll be demonstrating several powerful new and scalable digital connected solutions which offer significant clinical and economic benefits in a variety of fast-paced healthcare settings,” said Hout. “We have a commitment to fostering High-Performance Healthcare™ environments, and our platform-based devices help providers reduce their chances of making transcription errors along with time required to collect patient data. Our solutions provide clinicians with near-instant access to the most recent patient status so they can make informed decisions fast.”

Welch Allyn Connex® Integrated Wall System

The Welch Allyn Connex Integrated Wall System (IWS) incorporates nearly 100 years of innovation into one unit. The system features traditional Welch Allyn physical assessment instruments—an integrated ophthalmoscope and otoscope—combined with twenty-first century vital signs assessment technology from the Connex® Vital Signs Monitor (VSM). The Connex VSM is a full-color, touch screen vital signs device providing automatic measurements such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, pulse oximetry, weight and Total Hemoglobin; manual parameters such as respiration, height and pain level; and modifiers such as body position, O2 therapy details and others.

By incorporating Connex VSM technology into the Connex IWS, the wall unit can be configured for spot-check, monitoring with intervals or triage modes and is ideal for sites using an EMR or HIS (hospital information system). The Connex IWS significantly reduces time spent on manual transcription and instances of human error and has the ability to automatically transfer data to an EMR. Plus, it offers the ability for patient vital signs to be viewed anytime, anywhere on a network. The customizable wall system supports both Welch Allyn and its manufacturing partners’ technology, and the open architecture enables facilities to protect their investment, as upgrades and new technology can be added as they become available.

Welch Allyn Connex® Electronic Vitals Documentation System

The Welch Allyn Connex Electronic Vitals Documentation (EVD) System is an all-in-one solution that electronically captures and transmits patient vital signs data to an EMR, enabling improvements in patient safety and clinical decision making, and reducing risk to facilities. The system provides clinicians in general care settings with immediate access to accurate vital signs anytime, anywhere. It includes the Connex VSM, accessory cable management stand and Connex® Vitals Management (VM) softwarewhich automates the vitals documentation process to eliminate manual steps and the errors that go with them. With Connex VM software integrated into an EMR system, users can document accurate patient data right from the bedside.

Welch Allyn Connex® ProBP™ 3400

The Welch Allyn Connex ProBP 3400 isan automated digital blood pressure device designed to fit in the palm of the hand. Using Welch Allyn SureBP™ blood pressure technology, the Connex ProBP delivers fast, accurate blood pressure readings with the reliability and accuracy found in popular Welch Allyn vital signs devices. Now available worldwide, the Welch Allyn Connex ProBP is easy-to-use and provides a portable option for capturing reliable blood pressure readings in virtually any hospital or primary care environment.

“The need to simplify patient data documentation is having a profound impact on the way we develop our products,” added Hout. “Patient safety and reducing transcription errors are primary concerns—in hospitals, remote clinics, and physician offices. We are designing customizable products that offer greater efficiency and more configurability options to help shape the future of healthcare delivery beyond traditional approaches to connect, manage, and share patient information—and improve patient care in the process.”

About Welch Allyn

Founded in 1915 and headquartered in Skaneateles Falls, NY (USA), Welch Allyn is a leading global provider of medical diagnostic equipment and a complete range of digital and connected solutions. With 2,750 employees working in 26 different countries, Welch Allyn is a family-owned business that specializes in helping doctors, nurses, and other frontline practitioners across the globe provide the best patient care by developing innovative products, breakthrough technologies, and cutting-edge solutions that help them see more patients, detect more conditions, and improve more lives. More information about Welch Allyn and its complete line of connected products and solutions may be found at www.welchallyn.com.

Contacts

Welch Allyn

Jamie Arnold, APR

Public Relations Manager

+1-315-685-4599

jamie.arnold@welchallyn.com

(BUSINESS WIRE)– NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) announced today the NIKE+ FuelBand, an innovative wristband that tracks and measures everyday movement to motivate and inspire people to be more active. Activities can now be measured through a new metric called NikeFuel: the more active you are, the more NikeFuel you earn.

NIKE, Inc. President & CEO Mark Parker unveiled NIKE+ FuelBand at an event in New York attended by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, Oklahoma City scoring champion and all-star Kevin Durant and 2011 IAAF women’s 100-meter World Champion Carmelita Jeter.

“The NIKE+ FuelBand is a way for Nike to further evolve the exciting possibilities of merging the physical and digital worlds,” said Parker. “Nike has always been about inspiring athletes, and the NIKE+ FuelBand will help motivate them in a simple, fun and intuitive way.”

Designed to be worn throughout the day, the ergonomic, user-friendly NIKE+ FuelBand uses accelerometry to provide information about different activities through movement of the wrist via a LED dot matrix display. Four metrics are available: Time, Calories, Steps and NikeFuel. Unlike calorie counts, which vary based on someone’s gender and body type, NikeFuel is a normalized score that awards equal points for the same activity regardless of physical makeup.

Users set a daily goal of how active they want to be, and how much NikeFuel they want to achieve. The NIKE+ FuelBand displays a series of 20 LED lights that go from red-to-green as the user gets closer to their goal. The FuelBand syncs with the Nike+ website through a built-in USB, or wirelessly through Bluetooth to a free iPhone app, to record activity and track progress every day. The app interface also provides encouragement and motivation as goals are achieved.

Armstrong said, “What’s great about the idea of NikeFuel and the FuelBand is the way it provides real information and numbers to show how much people are doing all day, every day. That’s what will get people challenging themselves to do more and better their own scores. It’s a tool to get people more active.”

“NikeFuel means everyone can get recognition for activities they do,” said Durant. “It provides a scoreboard for your day and gets everyone moving.”

Jeter said, “You don’t have to be an elite athlete to appreciate how NikeFuel can motivate you. It’s an easy way to get credit for activities and compare how you do with others, even if you take part in different sports.

The Nike+ Fuelband will be available for preorder starting January 19th in the US at Nikestore.com for a suggested retail price of $149 (US).

To use Nike+ FuelBand, the following is needed:

• A Macintosh or PC with built-in USB. Mac OS v 10.4 or later, Windows 7 or Windows Vista (SP2) or Windows XP (SP2)
• Internet access. Broadband is recommended.
• Optional mobile app available in the iTunes App store; for updates on compatible mobile devices, visit Nikeplus.com

About NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc., based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikeinc.com and follow @Nike.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50138665&lang=en

Contacts

Nike Media Relations

212-367-4447