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Lilly is in the midst of settlement discussions with federal prosecutors over the pharma company?s off-label marketing of the antipsychotic medication Zyprexa. If settled, Lilly could be shelling out more than $1 billion in fines.

Merck is under investigation for allegedly pushing physicians to prescribe Vioxx for unapproved use. Federal investigators are scrutinizing Merck?s marketing and sales practices in search of shady business tactics.

Pfizer boosted warnings and prescribing information on its smoking-cessation drug Chantix in response to an early safety review by FDA. Side effects such as depression, suicidal thoughts, and odder-than-normal dreams have been attributed to use of the drug.

New from Pharm Exec: a blog, expanded tech and deals coverage, and a new awards program for emerging pharma leaders

Global marketing strategies and the business opportunities in Japan

Congress blocked DTC user fees, Reagan-Udall, field force reforms while slightly bumping FDA's budget

Will the sole-wholesaler approach mean higher costs for NHS?

After watching similar legislation barring data mining for Rx info get shut down in Maine and New Hampshire, Vermont changes tactics and amends its law.

In the wake of the ENHANCE study, new prescriptions of the cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin are dropping drastically, but calls to sales reps by physicians are on the rise.

Unlike Vioxx, Vytorin works exactly as explained in its now-famous food-and-family ads. So why are people up in arms against the drug? Experts ponder what went wrong.

In a surprising but not completely unexpected move, FDA announced last week that its Prescription Drug User Fee Act was dead on arrival. Feds cite lack of funding as main reason.

Managed care pharmacy executives list their favorite pharmaceutical companies based on promotional activities and the ability to meet managed care needs. Novartis reigns for 11th straight quarter.

Sales representatives will now need a license to sell their wares, according to new legislation approved last week in DC. The new law creates a list of zero-tolerance regulations, but experts wonder whether they will do anything to improve sales rep/physician relationships.

New report finds that neither sales reps nor patient requests are the deciding factor when it comes to physician prescribing habits, information is-the more the better.

New study finds that risks and side effects don't get their fair share of time in television advertising. The authors cry out for more educational information in DTC ads--but is it necessary if the ads aren't breaking the law?

Pricing, safety, comparative effectiveness, patents, and biosimilars top 2008's policy agenda

Pharma defends itself against claims made in charity's report on drug access for the world's poor

A new report says FDA is desperately behind on science. At last, a critique we can actually do something about. But will we?

Economist Conference, Pharma 2020

When it comes to clinical teams, the question of whether or not to outsource brings some untraditional answers

Pharma companies would do well to proceed with extreme caution when entering the blogosphere

GlaxoSmithKline locks up MediaCom as its only ad-buying/planning provider. The agency will handle GSK's massive ad spend, which last year hovered around $1.1 billion.

Drug manufacturer shakes things up with new Web site that functions as an open book into the world of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The company hopes that its transparent approach to design will be a lesson to pharma companies still fearful of online media.

Avandia is not getting pulled from the market, but that doesn't mean prescription benefit managers are going to take any chances with the controversial diabetes med. Two PBMs have already stated that they will be dropping the drug from their formularies.

European Sales Manager

The State of Arkansas filed suit against Risperdal manufacturer Johnson & Johnson, claiming promotion of the drug for nonmedical uses has led to increased prescriptions being written and bigger payouts by Medicaid.

The European CRO industry is becoming more competitive and complex by the day. What will it take to remain successful in this rapidly evolving landscape? Alan Morgan investigates.

Science is the lifeblood of pharma, of course. But these days, science isn't just what you produce in your own labs. It's what you can license, buy, partner on, or gain through acquisition. Which means that, increasingly, deals are the lifeblood of pharma.

One of industry's main complaints is that delaying the introduction of new medicines is a particularly simple way of saving money