Drugs.com - Pharma News

Walgreens Health Initiatives Reports Negative Drug Trend for Highly Managed Plans

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:35:41 GMT

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2008 - Pharmacy benefit manager Walgreens Health Initiatives reported that highly managed plans experienced a decline in prescription drug cost trend as part of its Walgreens Health Initiatives Outlook,...

Lilly Completes Final Phase of Its Indianapolis Biotechnology Complex

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:35:05 GMT

Completion honors Lilly's commitment to the community and its biotech pipeline INDIANAPOLIS, May 12, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly and Company announced today completion of the final phase of its $1 billion effort to further strengthen...

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. Announce the Termination of the AZOR Co-Promotion Agreement

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:05:07 GMT

NEW YORK and PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 12, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Forest Laboratories, Inc. , a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company, and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. today announced that they have terminated their co-promotion agreement for AZOR(TM)*...

Lancet: Combating Counterfeit Drugs

Fri, 09 May 2008 16:20:35 GMT

LONDON, May 8, 2008-This week's lead Editorial in The Lancet discusses the growing problem of counterfeit drugs, highlighting a possible counterfeiting case in America in which a contaminant found in batches of heparin is believed to have...

Takeda Sees Operating Profit Drop for 2nd Yr on Swelling Costs

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:05:21 GMT

TOKYO, May 9, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. <4502> said Friday it is likely to post a year-on-year drop in group operating profit for the second straight year in fiscal 2008 due to rising expenses including a string...

Schweizerhall: Impending Approval of Clopidogrel from Cimex in Germany

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:00:12 GMT

BASLE, Switzerland, May 8, 2008. 18.00 hrs. --- The decentralized approval procedure of clopidogrel developed by Cimex AG (original product: Plavix / Iscover by Bristol-Myers Squibb / Sanofi-Aventis) has successfully been...

Orion has decided not to continue the development of a new COMT inhibitor candidate

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:25:58 GMT

ESPOO, Finland, May 9, 2008-Orion Corporation has decided not to continue the development of their new COMT inhibitor, which has now progressed to the end of clinical Phase I. Based on the overall results received from the studies hitherto...

FDA Sends Novartis Warning Letter Over Trileptal Promotional Materials.

Thu, 08 May 2008 21:00:59 GMT

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 8, 2008-The FDA today posted on its website a warning letter sent to Novartis Pharmaceuticals regarding promotional materials for Trileptal. The letter and promotional materials are...

FDA Sends Letter to Shire Over Fosrenol Promotional Materials

Thu, 08 May 2008 20:55:41 GMT

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 8, 2008-The Food and Drug Administration today posted on its website a letter sent to Shire Development regarding promotional materials for Fosrenol. The letter is below. Dennis Ahern, MS Associate Director, Regulatory...

GAO Report: PRESCRIPTION DRUGS - Trends in FDA's Oversight of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising

Thu, 08 May 2008 20:50:49 GMT

What GAO Found WASHINGTON, May 8, 2008-Since 1999, FDA has received a steadily increasing number of advertising materials directed to consumers. In 2006, GAO found that FDA reviewed a small portion of the DTC materials it received, and the agency...

Novartis Exercises Rights to Purchase Additional Shares of Alnylam's Common Stock in Accordance with Terms of Existing Investor Rights Agreement

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:45:22 GMT

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2008 - Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that Novartis has elected to fully exercise its current right to purchase 213,888 unregistered...

Biovail Announces New Strategic Focus

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:05:36 GMT

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2008 - Biovail Corporation (NYSE/TSX: BVF) today announced several new initiatives stemming from its strategic review, including a new strategic focus on developing specialty products targeted towards central...

King Pharmaceuticals Reports First-Quarter 2008 Financial Results

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:30:15 GMT

BRISTOL, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2008 - King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:KG) announced today that total revenues were $432 million during the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to $516 million in the first quarter of 2007....

Quintiles Signs Agreement to Acquire Eidetics

Wed, 07 May 2008 22:25:34 GMT

Proposed acquisition to augment Quintiles Consulting offerings RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., May 07, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Quintiles Transnational Corp. today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Eidetics, a privately held...

ACT Biotech Acquires Clinical and Early Stage Oncology Portfolio Licenses From Bayer Healthcare

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:10:47 GMT

NGN Capital leads $12 Million in Series A First Tranche Financing SAN FRANCISCO and NEW YORK, May 07, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- NGN Capital announced today the formation of ACT Biotech Inc., a new company dedicated to developing and commercializing...

Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Plan to Spin-off Biotechnology Business

Wed, 07 May 2008 13:15:33 GMT

BRIDGEWATER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 2008 - Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENZN) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a plan to spin-off its novel biotechnology business from Enzon in a transaction that will...

Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. Acquires ABR Invent and ABR Development

Tue, 06 May 2008 19:25:07 GMT

Acquisition of dermal filler product enhances company's aesthetic portfolio CORAL GABLES, Fla., May 06, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., the world's largest independent pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatology, announced...

Fougera First-to-Market With Calcipotriene Topical Solution 0.005% (Rx) (Scalp Solution)

Tue, 06 May 2008 15:25:40 GMT

MELVILLE, N.Y., May 06, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Fougera, a division of Nycomed US Inc., announced it has received FDA approval to bring to market the first generic Calcipotriene Topical Solution 0.005% (Rx) (Scalp Solution). The generic...

EPO Announces Symbicort European COPD Use Patent Decision

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:15:51 GMT

LONDON, May 6, 2008-AstraZeneca today announced that the European Patent Office (EPO) Technical Board of Appeal has made a final ruling that the European Combination patent covering the use of Symbicort (formoterol and budesonide) for the...

Teva Reports First Quarter 2008 Results

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:40:24 GMT

JERUSALEM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2008 - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. First Quarter Highlights: -- Net sales of $2,572 million, up 24 percent compared to the first...

Bayer Schering Pharma to Market New Low-dose Oral Contraceptive Yaz in Europe

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:30:38 GMT

BERLIN, May 6, 2008 - Bayer Schering Pharma's new low-dose oral contraceptive YAZ has been approved in the EU.YAZ will be the first oral contraceptive on the European market containing the unique progestin drospirenone combined with...

Merck to Reduce U.S. Sales Force by 1,200 Positions

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:00:54 GMT

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 2008 - Merck & Co., Inc. today announced plans to reduce the size of its U.S. sales force by 1,200 positions. "Merck is taking this step as part of our previously disclosed, continuing efforts to...

GE Healthcare Signs Global Molecular Diagnostic Agreement to Advance Respiratory Drug Development

Mon, 05 May 2008 16:15:30 GMT

CHALFONT ST GILES, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 2008 - GE Healthcare, a subsidiary of the General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) announced today that it has signed a non-exclusive agreement with Merck & Co., Inc. to share technology on imaging...

VaxGen Sells Anthrax Vaccine Program and Related Assets and Technology to Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.

Mon, 05 May 2008 14:45:27 GMT

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 05, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VaxGen, Inc. , a biopharmaceutical company, announced today it has completed the sale of all assets and rights related to its recombinant protective antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine...

Curis Announces Genentech's Initiation of Hedgehog Antagonist Phase II Clinical Trial In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Mon, 05 May 2008 13:45:42 GMT

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 2008 - Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS), a drug development company focused on developing the next generation of proprietary targeted medicines for cancer treatment, today announced that its collaborator Genentech...

Nordic Capital Fund VII and Avista Capital Partners Agree to Acquire ConvaTec Business for approximately $4.1 Billion

Mon, 05 May 2008 12:10:07 GMT

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2008 - Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced today it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its ConvaTec business unit to Nordic Capital Fund VII ("Nordic Capital") and Avista Capital Partners...

Critical Therapeutics Signs Definitive Agreement to Merge with Cornerstone BioPharma

Fri, 02 May 2008 16:00:28 GMT

Transaction to Create a Respiratory-Focused Specialty Pharmaceuticals Company with a Diversified Commercial and Clinical Product Pipeline Joint Conference Call to be held on May 2, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. EDT LEXINGTON, Mass. and CARY, N.C. - May 1,...

Merck Extends Enrollment Deadline in Program to Resolve U.S. Vioxx Product Liability Lawsuits

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:45:56 GMT

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2008 - Merck & Co., Inc. said today it has extended to June 30, 2008, the enrollment deadline for U.S. eligible claimants with cases filed or tolled by Nov. 9, 2007 wishing to be part of the...

QSV Biologics Awarded cGMP Manufacturing Contract by Pfizer Inc.

Fri, 02 May 2008 13:10:52 GMT

EDMONTON, May 01, 2008 /PRNewswire/ - QSV Biologics, Ltd (QSV), a North American based biologics CMO located in Edmonton, Canada, has been awarded a cGMP manufacturing contract for a recombinant protein under development by Pfizer, Inc. The protein...

Roche Exercises its Option to Further Develop and Commercialize Memory Pharmaceuticals' Nicotinic Alpha-7 Agonist, MEM 3454

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:50:30 GMT

-Memory Receives $6 Million Milestone Payment- MONTVALE, N.J. and BASEL, Switzerland, May 02, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp. and Roche today announced that Roche has exercised its option to further develop and...

Renovis Stockholders Approve Acquisition by Evotec

Thu, 01 May 2008 20:35:06 GMT

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 01, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Renovis, Inc. announced today that its stockholders approved the adoption of the merger agreement with Evotec AG at a special meeting of stockholders held today. The merger is...

'Sharing Miracles' Television Program to Feature Leave it to Beaver Star Jerry Mathers

Thu, 01 May 2008 16:10:15 GMT

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2008 - This month, Sharing Miracles - a 30-minute public affairs television program that tells the compelling and inspirational stories of real patients - will feature Jerry Mathers, childhood star of the...

Interpublic Announces Agreement to Settle SEC Claims

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:40:42 GMT

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2008--IPG announced today that it has been informed by the SEC that the Commission has concluded its investigation into the company's past financial reporting practices, begun in 2002. Further, IPG and the SEC have...

SEC Charges McCann-Erickson Worldwide With Accounting Fraud

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:40:39 GMT

Holding Company, Two Former Executives Also Charged WASHINGTON, May 1, 2008 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed enforcement actions against global advertising network McCann-Erickson Worldwide, its parent company, and two...

Abbott, Takeda Conclude TAP Joint Venture

Thu, 01 May 2008 14:10:16 GMT

OSAKA, Japan, and ABBOTT PARK, Ill., May 01, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited have concluded their TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. (TAP) joint venture. The closing of the agreement to evenly divide the...

NUCRYST Announces Management Realignment and R&D Portfolio Change

Thu, 01 May 2008 13:50:42 GMT

WAKEFIELD, MA, April 30, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals, a developer and manufacturer of medical products that fight infection and inflammation, today announced that the Company has realigned its management team to further...

Eisai Gained Favourable Ruling by Court of Appeal, as NICE Process for Developing Guidance on Anti-dementia Medicines Ruled Unfair

Thu, 01 May 2008 13:35:59 GMT

LONDON, May 1, 2008-Eisai Limited (Headquarters: London, Managing Director: Nick Burgin), a UK subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President and CEO: Haruo Naito) gained a positive ruling on May 1, 2008 (the UK time) from the UK...

Sepracor to Acquire Oryx Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Expand Commercial Operations into Canada

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:50:43 GMT

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2008 - Sepracor Inc. (Nasdaq: SEPR) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Oryx Pharmaceuticals Inc., an affiliate of the Arrow Group. Oryx is a specialty pharmaceutical company...

Sanofi-aventis: Encouraging First-Quarter 2008 Results Further Positive Phase III Results for Eplivanserin

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:35:59 GMT

Adjusted EPS excluding selected items: PARIS, April 30, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In order to give a representation of our underlying economic performance, we present and explain an adjusted income statement. We also report adjusted net income...

FDA Sends Warning Letter to Merck Over Manufacturing Practices

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:05:30 GMT

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 30, 2008-The Food and Drug Administration today posted on its website a warning letter sent to Merck and Company over manufacturing practices. The letter is below. Department of Health and Human Services Public...