THOUSAND OAKS, California, November 21 /PRNewswire/ --

- First and Only Approved Platelet Producer Represents New Treatment Approach for Serious Chronic Autoimmune Disorder

Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) today announced that the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive opinion recommending marketing authorisation for Nplate(TM) (romiplostim) in the European Union (EU). The CHMP recommends Nplate for adult chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) splenectomised patients who are refractory to other treatments (e.g. corticosteroids, immunoglobulins). Nplate may be considered as second line treatment for adult non-splenectomised patients where surgery is contra-indicated.

Journalists and other readers should disregard the news release UsportStar.com Flies out of Development Phase, issued earlier today. The release was transmitted prematurely by PR Newswire.

For further information: Dreamscape Media Ltd, Mr Sameer Mitter, 8 The Courtyard, Buntsford Drive, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 3DJ, Tel: +44(0)1527-889278, Email: media@dsmstar.com . Press contact: Jay Jones, Logo Design Marketing, +44(0)1752830000, jay@logodesign.co.uk .

LONDON, November 21 /PRNewswire/ --

Quality leader Fronius International GmbH has been awarded the Frost Sullivan 2008 Best Practices Award for its development of the innovative and high performance Fronius IG Plus PV inverter series as well as for its outstanding service. With the development of this new product series, Fronius is setting new standards in the international inverter market.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO)

The Frost Sullivan Award for Product Quality Leadership is bestowed upon the company that has demonstrated superior quality control over its competitors in product manufacturing. Quality control is an essential element of satisfying customers, increasing buying behavior, and assuring long-term market survival.

BAAR, Switzerland, November 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Manas Petroleum Corporation announces that the Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Dr. Richard Schenz as an Independent Director.

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Richard Schenz as a member of Manas' board, stated Heinz J. Scholz, Manas's Chairman of the Board. With his experience and expertise as the former CEO of OMV, Central Europe's leading oil and gas company, we see him becoming a valuable contributor to Manas's future.

Dr. Schenz studied technical physics in Vienna and finished with a PhD. In 1969 he started his career with the Austrian oil gas company OMV, and was its CEO from 1992 to 2001.

LONDON, November 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The average Great British mother can expect less than an hour and a half each day to themselves according to leading Child Trust Fund provider, The Children's Mutual (http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk/).

The average full-time working mum is even worse off with less than an hour a day of 'me time' - which is defined as quality time spent awake, without worrying about the stresses and strains of the daily grind! Unsurprisingly, nearly three quarters of these women felt that this was insufficient.

LONDON, November 21 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark test case in the High Court, Unite the union, has successfully defended the rights of vulnerable asbestos victims from insurers' attempts to avoid their liabilities.

The trade union has resisted a legal challenge by insurance companies which, if successful, could have deprived thousands of mesothelioma sufferers and their families of compensation.

The High Court today (November 21, 2008) ruled that Employers' Liability insurers remain liable to pay compensation for mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos in the work place if they insured the employer at the time the asbestos exposure occurred.

HAARLEM, The Netherlands and DUSSELDORF, Germany, November 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Within the framework of this year's medical fair MEDICA, the international manufacturer of vibration machines, VibroGym International, held a seminar among experts on responsible training with vibration platforms in practice. Practitioners, physiotherapists and sports scientists swapped their knowledge with independent experts such as Prof. Dr. Klaus Baum (Cologne), Dr. Med. Gernot Felmet (Villingen-Schwenningen) and qualified sports scientist Clifford Opoku-Afari (Cologne). 50 participants had been invited and signed up to this exclusive private seminar on Dusseldorf's exhibition site.

BROMSGROVE, England, November 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Usportstar.com, the exclusive website where anyone can show off their sporting prowess with the possibility of being discovered, has moved out of the beta version into a new, innovative and feature rich version.

The new look site includes increased functionality and easier-to-use interactive features, making it quicker, easier and more complete. Streamlined searches, featured Scouts and faster speeds throughout, make UsportStar.com a joy to use for all, especially teams, brands and professional organisations that visit the site to find new sporting talent.

NEW YORK, November 21 /PRNewswire/ --

- Company's Business Transaction Management Software Recognized as Most Innovative Financial Services Technology of the Year

OpTier(R), the leader in Business Transaction Management(TM) (BTM) (http://www.optier.com/) for the enterprise, today announced that it has received the 2008 Financial Innovation Award for Most Innovative Financial Services Technology Solution for its CoreFirst(R) product. Presented by the ifs School of Finance, the prestigious Financial Innovation Awards (http://www.financialinnovationawards.com/) recognize financial services organizations and technology providers that demonstrate excellence in one of 22 categories.

SAN DIEGO, November 21 /PRNewswire/ --

- New, CE-Marked Molecular Assay May Help Identify Women with Cervical Cancer or Pre-Cancer More Accurately than Competing Technologies, Studies Show -

Gen-Probe's (Nasdaq: GPRO) CE-marked APTIMA(R) HPV assay may be an important new molecular tool to more accurately detect high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections that are associated with cervical cancer or precancerous lesions, according to nine oral presentations and two scientific posters presented last week by independent and Gen-Probe researchers at the international conference of the European Research Organization on Genital Infection and Neoplasia (EUROGIN) in Nice, France.