Zoll Medical, a manufacturer of resuscitation devices and software solutions, has reported net income of $1.78 million for the second quarter of 2009, compared with $5.65 million in net income for the same period last year.

Treatment with Novartis' Diovan (valsartan) does not reduce the incidence of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF), according to results of the GISSI-AF trial published in the April 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Baxter International has reported 2009 first quarter net income of $516 million, an increase of 20 percent from the $429 million in net income it recorded in the first quarter of 2008.

Biopharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences has closed its acquisition of CV Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Zoll Medical and FDA have notified healthcare professionals of a Class 1 recall of Zoll AED [automated external defibrillator] Plus Defibrillators distributed from May 2004 through Feb. 9, 2009. The recall was initiated because the device may fail to deliver a defibrillation shock, which could result in failure to resuscitate a patient during treatment of sudden cardiac arrest.

Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefits management company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire WellPoint's NextRx subsidiaries for $4.675 billion, which includes consideration for the value of a future tax benefit for Express Scripts based on the structure of the transaction.

Cardiologists estimate they will prescribe Bayer/Johnson & Johnson's Xarelto to 36 percent of newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients, while primary care physicians estimate they will prescribe Xarelto to 29 percent, according to a new survey from healthcare and pharmaceutical research firm Decision Resources.

Pfizer has unveiled its planned leadership and organizational structure for research and commercial operations that will become effective when the Wyeth acquisition closes.