Pharma News

Safe supplies consortium hard at work

Home/Pharma News | Posted 14/01/2011

Perhaps frustrated at the length of time required for action on counterfeit drugs by the EMA or the FDA, and the limited powers of each of these bodies, a group of individuals got together last year to do things their own way. The Interim Director of Rx‑360, a new non-profit international pharmaceutical consortium, was Mr Martin Van Trieste, Vice President of quality for Amgen.

Daiichi Sankyo pursues a global strategy

Home/Pharma News | Posted 07/01/2011

In Japan, Daiichi Sankyo has won its first worldwide marketing approval. The drug is laninamivir - long-acting neuraminidase inhibitor. The firm will market the drug as Inavir.

Fresh directions for Sinobiomed

Home/Pharma News | Posted 10/12/2010

Sinobiomed Inc announced the appointment of a new President and Chief Executive Officer on 2 September 2010. Mr George Yu completed his education in Germany and the US. Under his experienced guidance the company hopes to move swiftly on the following strategic initiatives:

FDA generics division officer joins Teva

Home/Pharma News | Posted 03/12/2010

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has added to its team Mr Gary Buehler, former head of the generics division at the FDA, The Wall Street Journal reported. Mr Buehler joins Teva as vice president of regulatory strategic operations.

Endo acquires US generics’ giant Qualitest

Home/Pharma News | Posted 26/11/2010

Endo Pharmaceuticals is buying US generics’ giant Qualitest Pharmaceuticals for about Euros 850,000 in cash to expand its portfolio of pain drugs. This is its second acquisition in as many months; last month it acquired Penwest Pharmaceuticals for just over Euros 100 million. Shares in US-based Endo were on the rise following the news.

Bristol-Myers Squibb looking stronger than expected

Home/Pharma News | Posted 19/11/2010

Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate), which prevents blood clots in patients at risk of heart attack or stroke and is the world's second biggest-selling prescription drug, loses US patent protection in November 2011. Bristol-Myers Squibb markets the drug in the US, while its partner sanofi-aventis sells it in other countries. Bristol-Myers got almost a third of its 2009 revenue from Plavix—Euros 4.6 billion out of a total of Euros 14.1 billion—and is racing to find new drugs to fill the gap.

Mylan granted US restraining order over sales of paroxetine

Home/Pharma News | Posted 12/11/2010

Generics’ giant Mylan Laboratories was granted a US court order in September 2010 prohibiting Apotex, a Canadian pharma company, from selling paroxetine. The order also prohibits GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) from supplying Paxil CR (paroxetine extended-release tablets) to Apotex. Mylan has an exclusive agreement to sell a copy of GSK’s Paxil CR. If GSK were to authorise additional sales of generic paroxetine this would undercut sales and cause an “irretrievable loss of market share and customers” for generic Paxil CR, a Mylan spokesman said.

Spotlight on Bosnia

Home/Pharma News | Posted 08/11/2010

In today’s global business environment, companies battle for position all over the world. Today Bosnia’s pharmaceutical industry is making the headlines, with a battle to invest in the leading company, Bosnalijek.

Teva bruised in Copaxone fight

Home/Pharma News | Posted 29/10/2010

Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) is generic’s giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ proprietory multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment, which netted the company Euros 1.17 billion in the first half of 2010. This success story, however, is now tainted with allegations that Teva performed an unethical clinical trial.

Sun Pharma finally wins battle for Taro

Home/Pharma News | Posted 08/10/2010

On 21 September 2010 India-based generics manufacturer Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (Sun Pharma) announced that it had acquired a controlling stake in Israel generics’ firm Taro Pharmaceuticals Industries after a prolonged legal battle.