Pharmaceutical Industry News Archive
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June 2008
June 2
Amira Pharmaceuticals Achieves Milestones in FLAP Inhibitor Program
With GlaxoSmithKline
Antitrust: EU Commission Opens Formal Proceedings Against
Sanofi-Aventis for Possible Procedural Infringement
Major Independent Trial Demonstrates Significant Anticancer Benefit
of Zometa in Women with Early-stage Breast Cancer
MediGene AG (DE) - MediGene Focuses its Strategy on Oncology and
Immunology
June 3
Mergent, Inc. Announces Changes to the HealthShares
Metabolic-Endocrine Disorders Index
New Pfizer Data Presented on CP-751,871 across Non-Small Cell Lung
Cancer and Ewing's Sarcoma
Pfizer Reviews Progress of Oncology Pipeline and New Commercial
Business Unit Structure with Analysts
Ingenuity Systems Announces Multi-Year Agreement With Boehringer
Ingelheim
AMSA PharmFree Scorecard Grades U.S. Medical Schools on
Conflict-of-Interest Policies; Only 7 Receive an 'A'
New Improved Dosing Approved for Pennsaid
GeneGo Extends Agreement With Merck & Co., Inc.
Sepracor Completes Acquisition of Oryx Pharmaceuticals and Expands
Operations in Canada
Roche NimbleGen and BioDiscovery Form Strategic Alliance to Enhance
CGH Microarrays, Software and Services
Altus Pharmaceuticals Reports ALTU-237 Phase 1 Clinical Trial
Results
June 4
Protez Pharmaceuticals to Be Acquired by Novartis
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Focuses Resources on Development of
Voreloxin (Formerly SNS-595)
Low HDL Cholesterol from Gene Variation Not Associated with
Increased Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease
Novartis Gains Rights to Promising Hospital Antibiotic in Clinical
Development Through Full Acquisition of Protez Pharmaceuticals
Early Communication About an Ongoing Safety Review of Tumor
Necrosis Factor (TNF) Blockers (marketed as Remicade, Enbrel,
Humira, and Cimzia)
Amgen and Wyeth Statement on the FDA Early Communication About
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Blockers
June 5
June 6
GlaxoSmithKline Acquires Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a World
Leader in Sirtuin Research and Development
US FDA Grants Pediatric Exclusivity for UCB's Keppra
European Medicines Agency Recommends Measures to Manage
Contamination of Heparin-containing Medicines
Synvista Therapeutics Reports Results of Three Phase 2 Clinical
Trials of SYI-2074 in Diabetic Patients with Cardiovascular Disease
FDA Announces New Labeling Changes for Regranex
June 9
QLT Announces Agreement to Sell Aczone to Allergan for
Approximately US$150 Million
CytRx Corporation Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Innovive
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
New Data Released at Major Diabetes Meeting on Initial Combination
Therapy with Januvia (sitagliptin), Merck's Diabetes Medicine, and
Metformin through Two Years of Treatment
Large, Long-Term Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial (VADT) Reveals
Important Cardiovascular Safety News on Avandia
Sucampo Pharma Europe Submits Marketing Authorization Application
in Switzerland
Cytrx Corporation Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Innovive
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Noven Provides Update on Daytrana Methylphenidate Transdermal
System
Canon Communications LLC Announces the Redesign of Its Medical
Device Link Portal
PharmaLinkFHI Acquires UK-Based Matrix Contract Research Ltd.
June 10
Administration Proposes Additional Funding for FDA to Improve Food
and Medical Product Safety
Merck Strengthens Its Prescription Medicines Portfolio in Latin
America
ETHEX Corporation Voluntarily Recalls a Single Lot of Morphine
Sulfate 60 mg Extended Release Tablets Due to the Potential for
Oversized Tablets
Valeant Pharmaceuticals Divests Argentina
Targacept and AstraZeneca Initiate Clinical Trial of AZD3480 in
Adult ADHD
RiskMetrics and Glass Lewis Endorse All Four Biogen Idec Director
Nominees
11th Annual Survey on Consumer Reaction to DTC Advertising of
Prescription Drugs Reveals:
AVI BioPharma Provides Update on New Business Plan: Increased
Pipeline Focus, Skill Base and Strategy, Discontinuation of
AVI–5126 Trial in CABG
June 11
Ranbaxy to Bring in Daiichi Sankyo as Majority Partner; Strategic
Combination Creates Innovator and Generic Pharma Powerhouse
LAB Research receives revised demand letter from Akela Pharma
Immunicon Files for Strategic Restructuring
Global Market for Pharmaceuticals Worth Over $1 Trillion by 2013
Innovation is Rapidly Globalizing: India and China are Becoming
Centers of Pharmaceutical R&D says Kauffman Foundation Study
June 12
Encorium Group, Inc. Announces Signing of Letter of Intent to
Acquire Prologue Research International, Inc.
Encorium Group, Inc. Announces Signing of Letter of Intent to
Combine with Linkcon; Expected Expansion Will Create Global CRO
Genentech Settles Dispute Related to Cabilly Patent
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Announces Development Timeline Updates
Abbott Opens New State-of-the-Art R&D Facility to Help Bring
Medicines to Patients Faster
FDA, European Medicines Agency to Consider Additional Test Results
When Assessing New Drug Safety
June 13
June 16
Drug Makers Differ Strongly in Policies for Low-income Countries
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l. Withdraws Its Marketing
Authorisation Application for the Pre-pandemic Vaccine Aflunov
Information for Healthcare Professionals: Antipsychotics
Ore Pharmaceuticals Focuses Resources on Development of
Repositioned Compounds
Biovail Recommends Shareholders Vote to Move Forward from the
Melnyk Lost Years
June 17
FDA Requests Boxed Warnings on Older Class of Antipsychotic Drugs
IMS Health Reports Global Biotech Sales Grew 12.5 Percent in 2007,
Exceeding $75 Billion
Boehringer Ingelheim to Acquire Actimis Pharmaceuticals
Reps. Dingell, Stupak Welcome PhRMA Invitation to Discuss DTC
Regulations
Decision Resources, Inc. Acquires Manhattan Research
Novartis, Pfizer and Merck Take the Lead on Strong Relationships
with Physicians, as Doctors Demand an Expanding Set Of Services
June 18
Statement Regarding Official Publication of Voluntary Takeover
Offer by Anthiarose Limited
Sanofi-aventis Intends to Make a Competing Bid of CzK 1,050 in Cash
Per Share for Zentiva
FDA Warns Individuals and Firms to Stop Selling Fake Cancer 'Cures'
Ranbaxy and Pfizer Settle Lipitor Litigation Worldwide
FDA Advisory Committee Unanimously Recommends Approval of
Ustekinumab for Treatment of Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis
Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Expiration of Hart-Scott-Rodino
Review Period for Acquisition of Kosan Biosciences Incorporated
EMEA Recommends Information on Lung Cancer Cases to Be Included in
Exubera Product Information
Singapore Reinforces Position as a Global Site for Pharma &
Biotech; Biomedical Manufacturing Output Quadruples to Reach US$17
Billion
Majority of Americans Support Legislative Action to Disclose
Pharmaceutical Company Gifts to Physicians
Johnson & Johnson Nordic AB Acquires Amic
June 20
Intas Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. Acquires US-based BPD Inc.
Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies Invested Over a
Billion Dollars in Research and Development (R&D) in 2007 But
Opportunities Exist for Further Growth, Says Rx&D
YM BioSciences Announces FDA Lifts Clinical Hold on Aerolef and
Clearance of a Phase II Clinical Trial
Merck Provides Update on U.S. Regulatory Status of MK-0524A (ER
niacin/laropiprant) and MK-0524B (ER
niacin/laropiprant/simvastatin)
Should Doctors Be 'Selling' Drugs for the Pharmaceutical Industry?
June 23
June 24
June 25
Use of Drug-Releasing Stents Associated With Decrease in Repeat
Procedures to Unblock Coronary Arteries
Savings Help the Medicine Go Down
New Report: The Truth About Drug Innovation
Concerned Shareholders of Biovail Seek Court Order Declaring
Biovail AGM Illegally Convened;
Center for Communication Compliance Launches First Regulatory
Resource, Training and Certification Portal for Healthcare
Communicators
June 26
CBO: Biogenerics Would Save Federal Government $6.6 Billion Over
Ten Years
Sen. Grassley Calls on Congress and NIH Leaders to Identify
Conflicts of Interest in Taxpayer Sponsored Medical Research
Further Steps in Generation Change at Boehringer Ingelheim
AstraZeneca Announces Senior Management Changes at Biologics
Business Unit, MedImmune
June 27
Bristol-Myers Squibb Completes Acquisition of Kosan Biosciences
Incorporated
Schering-Plough and Merck Announce Withdrawal of
Loratadine/Montelukast NDA and Termination of Respiratory Joint
Venture
FDA Approves Concerta (methylphenidate HCI) Extended-release
Tablets for Treatment of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder) in Adults
June 30
GlaxoSmithKline Responds to FDA on Cervarix and Plans to Submit
Final Study Data for Approval
Suspension of Shares for Trading on the Official List, Entry Into
Voluntary Administration
ACCME Receives Request for Information from U.S. Senate Special
Committee on Aging
A New Citeline Analysis Provides Valuable Clues to Health of Drug
Companies
Novexel Discontinues Development of NXL 101
FDA MedWatch- CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil)-Reports Of
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy In Patients Treated With
CellCept
