In recognition of World Malaria Day and the more than 660,000 people that still die from the deadly but preventable disease, Novartis and Malaria No More have partnered for a unique campaign that will provide malaria treatments to those infected in Africa.

Over the next three years, Novartis, joined by diagnostic testing company Alere Inc., will donate up to three million courses of pediatric antimalarial drug, matching the number of treatments donated by the public through the Power of One campaign.

“We believe that this innovative campaign will help speed malaria elimination,” said Joseph Jimenez, Novartis CEO in a press release. “Novartis has been striving towards this goal for more than a decade, and we just reached the milestone of providing 600 million treatments without profit to patients in malaria-endemic countries. No one should die from malaria today.”Continue reading...

Apple loses iPad Mini trademark, and finds a fan in Kim Jong-un as North Korea rattles saber and tensions rise with U.S., while increased China headaches include hacking threat and iPad regulation.

Discovery Communications expands global channel reach and launches scripted programming.

Novartis loses cancer drug patent battle in India.

Amazon buys Goodreads community-driven user reviews website.

AMC reveals new tagline and logo.

Armani hires Cate Blanchett for $10M campaign.

AT&T scores with March Madness Twitter campaign.Continue reading...

Apple continues to demonstrate brand cachet but faces worry about budget-conscious iPhone buyers and iPad rival in China.

Boeing's largest plane buyer praises its communications during Dreamliner safety crisis as battery woes put FAA on hot seat.

Google stems ad-price drop but keeps struggling with mobile.

Acer defies PC industry downturn.

Allergan plans to buy MAP for $958 million.

Air New Zealand launches "blind gate" promotion.

Beam sells off value brands to focus on premium as Global Brands shakes up drinks portfolio.Continue reading...

Young Emily Whitehead, who turned 7 in May, was saved from near death from leukemia after relapsing twice after chemotherapy – and with all viable options running out. In desperation, her parents sought experimental treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, using a disabled form of the virus that causes AIDS to reprogram her immune system genetically to kill cancer cells. 

“She is the first child and one of the first humans ever in whom new techniques have achieved a long-sought goal — giving a patient’s own immune system the lasting ability to fight cancer,” reports The New York Times.

The treatment, developed at the University of Pennsylvania, the Times noted in a separate story, “may signify a turning point in the long struggle to develop effective gene therapies against cancer. And not just for leukemia patients: other cancers may also be vulnerable to this novel approach — which employs a disabled form of H.I.V.-1, the virus that causes AIDS, to carry cancer-fighting genes into the patients’ T-cells. In essence, the team is using gene therapy to accomplish something that researchers have hoped to do for decades: train a person’s own immune system to kill cancer cells.”

“Our goal is to have a cure, but we can’t say that word,” said Dr. Carl June, lead of the U Penn research team, echoed by his colleague, Dr. John Wagner, director of pediatric blood and marrow transplantation at the University of Minnesota, who said the Pennsylvania results were “phenomenal” and  “what we’ve all been working and hoping for but not seeing to this extent. I think this is a major breakthrough.”

Cue Novartis, which has committed $20 million to building a research center on the university’s campus to ready the treatment for public consumption. In August 2012, Novartis acquired exclusive rights from Penn to CART–19, the therapy now known as CTL019. Unlike trials for commercial development of drugs like Viagra or cholesterol meds where millions consume the same drugs, Emma’s treatment requires a new batch of T-cells for each patient.Continue reading...

Apple joins Google in $500M+ bid for Kodak patents; smacked by USPTO as 'Steve Jobs Patent' for iPhones and iPads deemed invalid and Siri secrets revealed.

Diageo seen as unlikely to bid for Beam following UK report that drinks giant talked to Suntory about joint bid.

Barnes & Noble cuts Nook price from $99 to $79.

Michael Bloomberg weighs making bid for The Financial Times, which includes the paper and a half-interest in The Economist. 

Caribou Coffee celebrates 20th anniversary.

Carlos Slim brings Telcel brand to U.S. for Mexico calls.

CVS Caremark reportedly aims to acquire drug-store chain in Brazil.

Chili's begins soft rollout of new menu items.

Darden Restaurants looks to retool value proposition for its Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants.Continue reading...

AT&T sees end of copper-wire era, and agrees to pay fee to settle overcharging dispute.

McDonald's monthly sales drop for first time in nearly a decade.

Coca-Cola plans to boost corporate social responsibilty as growth key.

Burberry rethinks small-cities push.

CNN edges Fox News in overall election-night cable ratings.

Carlsberg says SAB Miller faces organizational "challenges" in Russia.

Dunkin' Donuts partners with Universal to tap into Latin music.Continue reading...

Groupon prices IPO as executives see hope in parallels to Amazon.

DeBeers now controlled by Anglo American.

MF Global Holdings CEO Jon Corzine resigns amid firm's implosion.

AMD to cut 1,400 jobs.

Apple fights discounts tooth and nail.

Church's Chicken focuses on family in new ads.

Columbia Sportswear uses outerwear "anti-spokesperson."

FOX to push envelope (and advertisers' buttons) with Glee episode featuring sex between gay teens.Continue reading...

Amazon faces profit squeeze from rollout of Kindle Fire.

Caterpillar signals U.S. export expansion with higher profits.

Coca-Cola plans to unveil white can to promote polar-bear protection.

Groupon battles perceptions that it's still valued too high.

Kodak talks with hedge funds about rescue financing.

McDonald's launches McRib nationwide once again.

NASCAR goes to college to cultivate fans.Continue reading...