BENLYSTA

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the first new drug to treat lupus in 56 years. It's not terribly effective: It only worked for 35% of the patients tested. But experts say the approval could prompt the development of more effective drugs.

Here's a roundup of some of Wednesday's major pharmaceutical news: An FDA panel gave Human Genome Sciences a boost with a thumbs-up for its lupus drug, Benlysta; Merck's experimental heart drug appears to work well without side effects; and Novartis announced its plans for long-term growth.

Back in early July, Human Genome Sciences Inc. (HGSI) shares jumped over 230 percent in one day after the pharmaceutical company said its experimental lupus drug had succeeded in a late-stage clinical trial, silencing many of its skeptics. If you decided then that a 230 percent move was all that...