Article Listing - Pharmaceutical
New £1.5 milion for dementia research launched by Alzheimer’s Society and Bupa Foundation
9 December 2009
causes. The two charities are together launching a £1.5million ($2.5 million) fund to support research into an issue that is affecting more and more people in the UK and internationally.
Dow spins out Pfenex as independent unit for recombinant proteins
9 December 2009
The USA’s Dow Chemical Co has formed a new independent company that will be known as Pfenex Inc through its Dow Venture Capital group. The new company, headquartered in San Diego, California, is based on human health applications of a Dow-developed technology called Pfenex Expression Technology, a robust Pseudomonas fluorescens-based platform that uses high throughput, parallel processing methodologies for optimized protein production, that has been utilized by likes of global drug giant Pfizer.
EU achieves political breakthrough on an enhanced patent system
8 December 2009
On December 4, the Council of the European Union unanimously adopted conclusions on an enhanced patent system for the region. The package agreed, details of which were only released yesterday, covers major elements to bring about a single EU patent and establish a new patent court in the EU. Together, these will make it less costly for businesses to protect innovative technology and make litigation more accessible and predictable. The accord will pave the way for solving the outstanding issues to achieve a major reform of the EU patent system in the near future.
Celgene buys rival Gloucester for $640 million, gaining rights to Istodax; Allos defends price of Folotyn
8 December 2009
Celgene Corp says it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire fellow USA-based rival acquire Gloucester Pharmaceuticals., in a two-part deal valuing the latter at some $640 million and provide it with rights to a new blood cancer drug, Istodax (romidepsin). The transaction has been approved by both firms’ boards of director and is subject to customary closing conditions.
Nippon Chemiphar to take full control of Japanese JV with Ranbaxy
8 December 2009
India’s largest drugmaker Ranbaxy Laboratories (which is 63.9%-owned by Japan's Daiichi Sankyo) and Nippon Chemiphar plan to dissolve their 50/50 joint venture, Nihon Pharmaceutical Industry, in Japan. This follows an agreement between the two companies that allows NC to purchase the entire shareholding of its partner. Following the transaction, NPI will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Chemiphar.
USA’s already $232 billion personalized medicine market to grow 11% a year, says PricewaterhouseCoopers
8 December 2009
In the USA, the market for personalized medicine is already worth $232 billion, and it is projected to grow 11% annually, according to a new report published by industry advisory firm PricewaterhouseCoopers entitled The Science of Personalized Medicine: Translating the Promise into Practice. Personalized medicine, which targets individualized treatment and care based on personal and genetic variation, is creating a booming market, but it is a disruptive innovation that PwC says will create both opportunities and challenges for traditional health care and emerging market participants.
Improved overall survival in most common leukemia treated with Roche’s MabThera
8 December 2009
The addition of Swiss drug major Roche’s MabThera (rituximab) to chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) significantly improves chances of survival, according to data presented today at the AmericanSociety of Hematology annual meeting in New Orleans. This is the first time that any treatment for CLL, the most common leukemia in the UK, has been shown to extend life in a randomized clinical trial.
USA’s Budget Office reviews promotional spending for prescription drugs
8 December 2009
US pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to promote prescription drugs have attracted the attention of policymakers because such activities may affect the rate at which different drugs are prescribed and consumed, the total amount spent on health care and, ultimately, health outcomes.
Struggling La Jolla Pharma saved by merger with Adamis
8 December 2009
San Diego, firm La Jolla Pharmaceutical, which has been struggling financially since it had to drop development of its Phase III lupus drug Riquent (abetimus sodium) in February, has entered into a definitive merger agreement with fellow USA-based Adamis Pharmaceuticals. On closing, the combined company will focus on the development and commercialization of therapeutic products for a variety of viral diseases, including hepatitis and influenza.
Valeant to acquire Laboratoire Dr Renaud of Canada in $21.8 million deal
8 December 2009
California, USA-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has agreed to acquire Laboratoire Dr Renaud, a cosmeceutical company located in Laval, Quebec, Canada for approximately C$23 million ($21.8 million).
- AstraZeneca's naloxegol meets endpoints; EMA validates Gilead's sofosbuvir MAA
- Is failure to adopt business process management putting the pharma industry at risk?
- Boehringer Ingelheim gets FDA warning letter on cGMP failures
- Sanofi and Regeneron's dupilumab shows 87% reduction in risk of asthma exacerbations
- Ignyta acquires Actagene Oncology and entry into cancer personalized medicine
