CALGARY, Canada, April 30 /PRNewswire/ --

- Program Will Focus on Evaluation of Botaneco's Technology to add Functionality to Echium oil

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck Serono (NYSE: SRA), a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and its partner ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGEN) today announced the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of atacicept in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).

"This trial with atacicept underlines Merck Serono's long-term commitment to patients with multiple sclerosis," said Dr. Anton Hoos, Head of Global Development at Merck Serono. "Atacicept has the potential to complement existing MS drugs by offering a novel mode of action and convenient administration."

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, April 30 /PRNewswire/ --

- TAQA's Growth Strategy Delivers Outstanding Q1'08 Results With AED 4 Billion Revenues and AED 398 Million Profit; Basic Earnings per Share Grows 525% to 9.6 Fils for the Quarter

The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC, a publicly listed company on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADSM: TAQA), today reported financial results for the first quarter 2008.

HATBORO, Pennsylvania, April 30 /PRNewswire/ --

The Sports Network, the nation's premiere real-time sports wire service, has launched a new site design whose technology and content expansion has received plaudits from within the industry. "It is equivalent to a standing ovation for our technology and content," stated Amanda Manero, spokesperson for the organization, "and our users are not only delighted, flooding us with accolades, but our branded clients have expressed their enthusiasm and appreciation for our bringing their offerings in the world of sports to the next level.

HATBORO, Pennsylvania, April 30 /PRNewswire/ --

The Sports Network, the nation's premiere real-time sports wire service and content source, was victimized this past week following an orchestrated attack by hackers apparently located in China. They were, as has been reported internationally, seeking retribution and revenge foisted upon their primary target, CNN, for comments made on air concerning the China/Tibet political situation, the Chinese governmental and public response to same.

ZURICH, Switzerland, April 30 /PRNewswire/ --

Corum Group Ltd., the global leader in M&A services to sellers of software and information technology companies, announces their increased presence in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland with the appointment of John Melotte as regional director.

Fungi produce a number of natural products. Some are potent toxins, like the amanitins primarily responsible for the toxicity of the death cap fungus. Others are life-saving drugs such as penicillin. Because of that diversity, the genetics of fungi have generated much interest in recent years.

Many fungi have a wealth of genes encoding for far more natural products than they actually produce, says Robert Cichewicz and colleagues at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. The explanation is thought to be that when fungi do not need certain compounds, they inhibit the transcription of the DNA that codes for the proteins that make them, preventing their biosynthesis.

Knowing what these mystery compounds are could be very important for the development of new medicines, as well as for helping us to understand the ecological roles that fungi play, he says.

In a new study published in Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry they have shown that metabolic pathways that are normally ‘silent’ can be re-activated to make new compounds.

BATH, England, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Barbara Olioso, a professional chemist who has devoted her career to working solely with natural and organic cosmetics, has used her expertise and passion for the environment to develop and launch her own skincare range: Forest Secrets.

After earning her doctor degree in industrial chemistry from Ca' Foscari University in Venice and a master's degree in Food Science and Technology, in 1999 Barbara started working with natural colours and skincare products, setting up the Research and Development department at Aura-Soma Products Ltd.

TOKYO, April 30 /PRNewswire/ --

NTT Communications (NTT Com) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary NTT Communications India Private Limited (NTT Com India) will open its fourth Indian office in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on May 1, 2008.

The new office, NTT Communications India Private Limited -- Chennai Branch, joins NTT Com India's existing branches in Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi. Many Japanese and other multinational companies are located in Chennai, a major city in southern India.

"With this fourth office, NTT Com India will have a broader base for providing enterprise customers with the telecommunications services and solutions they need to expand their operations in the fast-growing Indian market," said Managing Director Shin Miyanomoto.