SPOTLIGHT -
GSK Restructures Oncology Division
Glaxo's cancer departments will be consolidated into one big division encompassing discovery, research, and trials. The move is expected to cost some jobs, but GSK hopes it will strengthen synergy within its R&D unit.
Older Antipsychotic Drug Found Safer than New Treatments
A new study from the NIMH shows that next-generation treatments for schizophrenia might not be any better than older, first generation drugs-and in some cases might be worst.
Free Samples and the Bottom Line
A new study finds that doctors are three times more likely to prescribe generics when they don’t have access to free samples of branded drugs.
Pfizer Launches New Lipitor Ads
Celebrity spokesperson Dr. Jarvik has been replaced with a Regular Joe in the latest Lipitor DTC spots. Will the switch make a difference?
Vytorin Comes Under Fire Yet Again
A new study shows that while the combo drug decreases the chance of coronary artery disease, it doesn't work as well in slowing down aortic valve disease. So why is all the focus on cancer deaths?
GSK to Work with Valeant on Epilepsy Drug
After a year of layoffs and restructuring, Valeant Pharma scores big with a collaboration deal worth up to $670 million.
UCB Pharma to Rebrand as Specialty Company
The Belgium-based drug maker is terminating 2,000 jobs and rebranding itself as a biopharm with a focus on CNS and immunology drugs. Pharm Exec gave UCB a call to find out more.
A Meeting Planner's Point of View
Designed to rein in the relationship between sales reps and doctors, PhRMA's new, revised code may end up having an adverse effect on clinical trials
The New Code
Effective January 1st, sales reps will have a new standard for dealing with doctors the PhRMA way
Foreign Affairs
FDA missteps and global outsourcing are drawing Congressional scrutiny and prompting new oversight approaches
The M&A Numbers
Young & Partners crunches pharma's filings for, the first half of '08. The results? Ask the Japanese
Attack of the Junk
The United States makes the best medicines in the world. In days to come, that could be a problem.
AZ Adds an Electronic Component to Direct Mail
Digitas Health touts an increase in physician traffic to AstraZeneca's pain med site. The driver? An innovative piece of mail sporting a USB Web key to access product information.
Fake Pharmacies and Brand Jacking on the Rise
A new study tracks six high-traffic drugs that are turning up on shady online pharmacies, usually at huge discounts. The conclusion: Fancy Web sites are suckering customers and costing pharma money and credibility.
Genentech Launches Employee Retention Program
Tacked on to Genentech's press statement about its rejection of Roche's offer, the biotech firm announced the formation of a program to address employee concerns.
Preemption Makes Waves in Two More Cases
The case for preemption gets shot down in Texas, but holds up in yet another Medtronic suit in Minnesota.
Merck Vaccine Market Takes Center Stage
Margaret McGlynn, Merck's head of vaccines, expounded yesterday on the state of the company's vaccine program, including campaign strategies, product development, and a new reimbursement program for doctors.
FDA to Test Risk Info with Mock Ads
Do consumers pay attention to risk information in television ads? FDA plans to find out with a study using phony ads for a nonexistent blood pressure drug.
Abbott Launches Podcast Series
Crohn?s disease is the topic of conversation on the first Abbott unbranded podcast. The company talks about why it went the radio route.
BPA 2008
BMS Bids on ImClone
Whether or not BMS's $4.5 billion offer for ImClone is fair is up in the air, but either way BMS stands to gain chunk of change if its bid is approved.
Patients Spurn AIDS Drugs Due to Side Effects
A new study reports that more than 27 percent of Americans are not being treated for HIV because they fear adverse reactions to the drugs. Pharm Exec talked to the doctors in charge of the survey to learn more.
Can Sentinel Save Drug Development?
FDA's new sentinel system shows the pendulum swing toward safety won't swing back anytime soon
Cutter's Way
FDA preemption is a hot issue for pharma, and it's likely to get hotter. But it's the wrong issue.
Salute to the Murines
There's a cure for everything, as long as the patient is a mouse
Attention YouTube Users: GSK Wants You
Glaxo launched a YouTube page targeting potential employees through YouTube. One video in particular features CEO Andrew Witty talking about his adventures in GSK. Is this the future of recruitment?
Roche Makes $44B Offer for Control of Genentech
After years of owning a majority share in Genentech, Roche makes a play to buy out the rest of the biotech firm.
BMS Settlement Cash Distributed
Bristol-Meyers Squibb will pay more than half a billion dollars to settle charges that it illegally promoted the sale of the anti-psychotic drug Abilify for off-label uses.
More Cuts Across the Board
Pfizer, Schering, Abbott, and Boehringer announced that they will be shifting and slashing staff at both sales and manufacturing levels. While much smaller in scope than earlier cuts, the bloodletting doesn?t seem to be over.
PhRMA Says No to Tchotchkes
The new Phrma marketing code bans pens and pads and other non-educational gifts. It bans dinners with docs (but not the lunch-and-learn). And it requires compliance. Are we safer yet?
