Thousand Oaks, California, Amgen Inc. [NASDAQ:AMGN] today announced that the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nplate™ (romiplostim), the first and only platelet producer for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in splenectomized (spleen removed) and non-splenectomized adults with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Nplate, the first FDA-approved peptibody protein, works by raising and sustaining platelet counts, representing a novel approach for the long-term treatment of this chronic disease.

Bristol Tennessee, King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [NYSE:KG] announced today that it has submitted to the Board of Directors of Alpharma Inc. [NYSE: ALO] a proposal to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Alpharma for $33.00 per share in cash. The proposal is not conditioned on financing. King’s all-cash proposal represents a 37% premium over the closing price of Alpharma common stock on August 21, 2008, the last trading day prior to public disclosure of King’s proposal, a 49% premium over the closing price of Alpharma common stock on August 4, 2008, the date of King’s initial written offer to Alpharma, and a premium in excess of approximately 38% over Alpharma’s average closing price during the one, three and twelve-month periods ended August 21, 2008. The proposed price implies a total equity value of approximately $1.4 billion for 100% of the fully diluted share capital and an enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion.

Home improvement supply giant Home Depot [NYSE:HD] reported higher than expected earnings on Tuesday.   The company still expects a decline in profits of about 24 percent this year, reflecting the softening of the US housing market.

Home Depot reported earnings of $1.2 billion or 71 cents a share, a 24 percent decline from a year earlier.  The Street had expected earnings of 61 cents.  The company also reported $21 billion in sales, greater than the $20.58 expected by analysts.

Food maker Heinz [NYSE:HNZ] reported stronger than expected earnings on Friday.  The company reported that its first-quarter earnings had climbed by 11 percent.  The increase in profits was due to increased sales, particularly in the United States.   Revenue increased from $2.25 to $2.58 billion, while net income rose from $205.3 to $229 million.  EPS increased from 63 to 72 cents.

Heinz reported growth across all segments except in food service, where revenues dropped by 2.8 percent. 

Heinz gave guidance for results for the full year stating that they expected to reach the upper limited of the previously forecasted range.    EPS is likely to fall in the $2.87 to $2.91 range.  Analysts have forecast $2.90.