Pharmaceutical Industry News Archive
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December 2008
December 1
Introgen Restructures Operations to Focus on Revenue-Generating Manufacturing Capabilities
Quintiles Acquires Targeted Molecular Diagnostics
Arpida to Restructure and Focus on Key Projects
Hemispherx Biopharma Introduces Expense Reduction Program
Johnson & Johnson Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Mentor Corporation
TargetRx's LaunchAdvantage Offers Critical Insight for Successful Drug Introductions
Pressure BioSciences, Inc. Announces Restructuring, Significant Cost Reduction Initiatives, and Sharpened Focus
Enzon Discontinues Its Plan to Spin-off Its Biotechnology Business
December 2
InSite Vision Announces Corporate Restructuring To Focus on Growth Opportunities and Conserve Resources
WuXi PharmaTech Will Focus U.S. Operations on Laboratory Testing Services
Titan Pharmaceuticals Announces Reduction in Force
Sinovac Releases Statement on Healive Vaccine Suspension
Epilepsy Drug May Increase Risk of Autism in Children
PhRMA Statement on JAMA Study
Brand-Name Drugs Do Not Appear Superior to Generic Drugs for Treating Cardiovascular Disease
December 3
FDA Issues Questions and Answers on Medication Guides for Erythropoiesis-stimulating Agents (ESAs).
Innohep (tinzaparin): Clinical study Stopped Early Because of Interim Finding of Increased All-cause Mortality in Patients Who Received Drug
Cell Genesys and Takeda Announce Termination of Collaboration Agreement for GVAX Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer
Drug Marketing Techniques May Be Risking Patient Safety
AstraZeneca Appoints Graham Baker Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for North America
The Prescription Project Petitions FDA to Order Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Companies to Remove Illegal Internet Ads
December 4
GlaxoSmithKline Announces Waiver of a Condition to the Tender Offer for Genelabs Technologies, Inc.
ThermoGenesis Announces Management Transition; Provides Update on Operational Milestones
Merck Provides 2009 Financial Guidance; Reaffirms Guidance for 2008 and 2010
Introgen Files Voluntary Chapter 11 Petition to Facilitate Restructuring
Forest Laboratories Responds to Unsolicited Mini-Tender Offer
Economic Measures Including a Projected Corporate Restructuring and Workforce Reduction
December 5
December 8
Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca Announce Expansion of Worldwide Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize Dapagliflozin in Japan
SDI Reports: Physicians Satisfied with Number of Sales Rep Visits
Alnylam Strengthens Intellectual Property Estate through Acquisition of Nucleonics Patent Assets
FDA Approves GlaxoSmithKline Tetanus, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough Vaccine, Boostrix, for Adults
Emisphere Announces Reorganization Plan to Strengthen Financials and Focus On Technology Application
December 9
XTL Biopharmaceuticals Implements Restructuring Plan
Electronic Prescribing System May Encourage Physicians to Choose Lower-Cost Drugs
Kuvan Receives Marketing Approval in the European Union
Merck KGaA’s Kuvan Receives Marketing Authorization in Europe
Merck Outlines Long-Term Prospects and Progress on Strategic Plan at 2008 Annual Business Briefing
December 10
Sanofi-Aventis: Changes in Organisation
Popular Class of Diabetes Drugs Doubles Risk of Fractures in Women
IMS Health Reports Annual Global Generics Prescription Sales Growth of 3.6 Percent, to $78 Billion
America’s Pharmaceutical Research Companies Enhance Voluntary Guidelines on Direct-to-Consumer Advertising
NRC Staff Proposes $3,250 Fine for Security Violations at GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
December 11
Hospira Issues Voluntary Recall of One Lot of 20meq Potassium Chloride in 5% Dextrose and 0.45% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP Due to Incorrect Bar Code Label
Hovione Buys Pfizer's Loughbeg API Facility
Panacos Provides Update on Corporate Strategy
AstraZeneca Returns Worldwide Rights to IPI-504 and IPI-493 Development Programs to Infinity Pharmaceuticals
Lilly Highlights Transformation Strategy for Wall Street, Reviews Robust Pipeline and Sets 2009 Financial Guidance
The Prescription Project Criticizes New PhRMA DTCA Guidelines
Dingell, Stupak React to PhRMA's DTC Policy Revisions
Massachusetts Proposes Sweeping New Rules Governing Sales and Marketing Tactics of Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Companies
Pain Therapeutics Receives Complete Response Letter From FDA for Remoxy
December 12
FDA Requires New Safety Measures for Oral Sodium Phosphate Products to Reduce Risk of Acute Kidney Injury
AstraZeneca Responds to FDA Joint Advisory Committees' Recommendation on Symbicort
Elan Announces Resource Realignment
GlaxoSmithKline Statement on FDA Advisory Committee Vote on Use of Asthma Medicines Containing Long-Acting Beta-Agonists
Johnson & Johnson Announces Receipt of Israeli Antitrust Approval for Acquisition of Omrix
Bayer Strengthens Research and Development
AstraZeneca Responds to FDA Joint Advisory Committees’ Recommendation on Symbicort
Amorfix Receives Fourth Biogen Idec Investment
Johnson & Johnson Begins Tender Offer to Acquire Mentor Corporation
Allergists Respond to FDA Committee Recommendation on Asthma Medication, Encourage Patients with Questions to Contact Physicians
Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb Prevail before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the U.S Plavix Patent Infringement Case
Lilly Chairman Taurel Says Promise of Personalized Medicine Could be Jeopardized by Short-Sighted Public Policies
December 15
Senator Grassley’s Letter to Wyeth About Medical Ghostwriting
Senator Grassley’s letter to DesignWrite Inc. about medical ghostwriting
Adventrx Exploring Strategic Options
SDI Reports: Number of Flu Vaccines Given in Physicians’ Offices Lower This Season
Sanofi-aventis U.S. Announces Increased Access to Drugs for Low Income Patients Through Expanded PAP Programs
Titan Pharmaceuticals Announces Further Reductions in Workforce and Voluntary Delisting from the American Stock Exchange
EntreMed Focuses on Development of ENMD-2076
Major Shareholder Jack W. Schuler Calls for Termination of Elan CEO
December 16
December 17
Abbott Exercises Its Option to Acquire Ibis Biosciences, a Subsidiary of Isis
Healthcare Costs Prevented Nearly 40 Million Americans From Filling Their Prescriptions in 2008
Neurobiological Technologies Announces Viprinex Does Not Pass Interim Futility Analysis
National Survey Finds That in the Last Three Months Millions of Americans Are Stretching Their Drug Prescriptions, Saving Themselves Money, by Either Taking the Medication Less Often or by Taking a Smaller Dosage Than the Physician Prescribed
FDA Requires Warnings about Risk of Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior for Antiepileptic Medications
Study Finds Much of Private-Sector Consumer Medication Information Not Consistently Useful
Lundbeck Initiates Clinical Phase III Trials With Desmoteplase in Ischemic Stroke
FTC Sues Ovation Pharmaceuticals for Illegally Acquiring Drug Used to Treat Premature Babies with Life-Threatening Heart Condition
December 18
December 19
December 22
December 23
GlaxoSmithKline and Archemix Form Strategic Alliance to Develop Aptamers to Treat Inflammatory Diseases
Wisconsin AG Van Hollen Announces Settlement In Case Against Amgen And Immunex Alleging Deceptive Manipulation Of Average Wholesale Price For Pharmaceuticals
Emory University Announces Actions Following Investigation
Rep. Barton Probes FDA Contract
Teva Completes Acquisition of Barr
New Report Highlights Dramatic Change in U.S. Drug Spending Trends, Policy Implications
KV Pharmaceutical Voluntarily Suspends All Shipments of Its Approved Tablet-Form Drugs
Ethex Corporation Initiated Nationwide Voluntary Recall of a Single Lot of Hydromorphone HCl 2 mg Tablets Due to Potential for Oversized Tablet
Abbott and Isis Announce Hart-Scott-Rodino Clearance of Abbott's Acquisition of Ibis Biosciences, a Subsidiary of Isis
