Bristol-Myers spins off Mead Johnson Nutrition
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. has decided to spin off its 83 percent stake in Mead Johnson Nutrition in a deal valued at up to about $6.5 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb wants to continue raising money to purchase and to develop innovative biotech drugs that can compensate expected revenue loss when Plavix faces generic competition after patent expiration.
More info: Bloomberg
Study Questions Efectiveness of Merck’s Zetia
Abbott's Niaspan, a proprietary formulation of niacin, was compared to Merck’s Zetia in heart patients. Zetia (ezetimibe) is a newer drug that reduces bad cholesterol. Control of high cholesterol in patients taking a statin plus the old niacin was superior in reducing buildup in the carotid artery to those taking the same statin plus the newer Zetia.
The results of the study were published by The New England Journal of Medicine and were presented last Sunday in Orlando at an annual meeting of the American Heart Association.
Although these results are not definitive, suppose a new setback for Merck in the pursuit of proving that Zetia and Vytorin may prevent clogged arteries and heart attacks above and beyond statins as single treatment.
More info: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
FDA hearing: first assault
Today took place the first assault of the two-day FDA hearing aiming to clarify how can be regulated drug information and promotion on social media. Many pharma companies are reluctant to get involve with social media due to the fact that still is a gray area that requires urgent clarification on behalf of the authorities.
During the today’s hearing Google officials proposed a new sponsored link ad format by which headlines will link to designated landing page, a warning message is fixed and cannot be modified and a ‘more info’ link is included directing to risk information.
See: Reuters
During the today’s hearing Google officials proposed a new sponsored link ad format by which headlines will link to designated landing page, a warning message is fixed and cannot be modified and a ‘more info’ link is included directing to risk information.
See: Reuters
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Siete candidatos a comprar Ratiopharm
Se trata de cuatro inversores financieros y tres grandes farmacéuticas, la israelí Teva, líder mundial en genéricos, Sanofi-Aventis y Pfizer.
Ratiopharm es parte del holding de empresas de la familia Merckle, cuyo patriarca se suicidó a principios de este año. Los bancos acreedores controlan ahora el futuro del grupo y el pasado verano ofrecieron a la familia una moratoria de 18 meses con el fin de dar tiempo suficiente para vender algunos de sus activos y poder reducir la enorme deuda que acumula.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Top pharma news of the day
Novartis plans to invest $200M in Ads for Prevacid
Novartis has planned to support with a series of TV spots the launch of Prevacid 24HR, a new version of its over-the-counter heartburn drug Prevacid (lanzoprazole).
Novartis is pursuing a diversification strategy to reduce dependence on branded prescription products. The Swiss company is diversifying into generics, OTC medicines, diagnostic tools and vaccines.
Prescription Prevacid is marketed by Takeda and its patent is due to expire this month and generic competition is expected to follow immediately after. Novartis signed a partnering agreement with Takeda to market a non-prescription form.
The FDA approved Prevacid 24HR in the form of 15mg delayed-release capsules. Prevacid 24HR is a 14-day course of treatment and should be taken once per day before eating in the morning to treat frequent heartburn.
See: Insciences, RTT, WSJ
More blood clots in patients who took anti-anemia drugs
A study in more that 55,000 cancer patients has confirmed that those who took anti-anaemia drugs are twice more likely to develop blood clots.
Sales of this anti-anaemia drugs or erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (Aranesp, Epogen, Procrit and others) have fallen dramatically since a study by J&J showed a higher risk of death and cardiovascular complications for aggressively treated patients.
See: Reuters
Novartis has planned to support with a series of TV spots the launch of Prevacid 24HR, a new version of its over-the-counter heartburn drug Prevacid (lanzoprazole).
Novartis is pursuing a diversification strategy to reduce dependence on branded prescription products. The Swiss company is diversifying into generics, OTC medicines, diagnostic tools and vaccines.
Prescription Prevacid is marketed by Takeda and its patent is due to expire this month and generic competition is expected to follow immediately after. Novartis signed a partnering agreement with Takeda to market a non-prescription form.
The FDA approved Prevacid 24HR in the form of 15mg delayed-release capsules. Prevacid 24HR is a 14-day course of treatment and should be taken once per day before eating in the morning to treat frequent heartburn.
See: Insciences, RTT, WSJ
More blood clots in patients who took anti-anemia drugs
A study in more that 55,000 cancer patients has confirmed that those who took anti-anaemia drugs are twice more likely to develop blood clots.
Sales of this anti-anaemia drugs or erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (Aranesp, Epogen, Procrit and others) have fallen dramatically since a study by J&J showed a higher risk of death and cardiovascular complications for aggressively treated patients.
See: Reuters
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