Pharmaceutical Industry News Archive
Get news by email or subscribe to our news feeds.
News Archive for March 2008
March 3, 2008
- New survey shows Michigan doctors embracing ePrescribing
- AEterna Zentaris and Paladin Labs Announce Sale and Purchase of Miltefosine Rights
- Toolbar Created for PharmaLiveSearch.com, the Only Search Engine Specific to the Pharmaceutical Industry
- Pfizer to Acquire Serenex to Extend Oncology Pipeline and Access Novel Technology Platform
- Merck Progress Report on Enrollment in Program to Resolve U.S. Vioxx Product Liability Lawsuits
- MicroDose Technologies Grants Global License to Merck & Co., Inc., for Use of the MicroDose Inhaler with Merck's Proprietary Products
- OneWorld Health, Amyris Biotechnologies and sanofi-aventis Announce Development Agreement for Semisynthetic Artemisinin
- BioWa Announces Expansion of License Agreement with Genentech for BioWa's POTELLIGENT Technology
- Barr Announces Favorable Ruling in Yasmin Patent Challenge
March 4, 2008
- StemCells, Inc. Terminates Its Discussions to Acquire Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC
- Court Decides Against Bayer’s Yasmin Patent
- Allergan Comments on the United States Department of Justice Subpoena for the Production of Documents Relating to Promotional Practices of Botox for Therapeutic Uses
- PsychoGenics and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Sign Drug Discovery Agreement
- New Technique Involving Roche's LightCycler 480 Instrument Enables Efficient and Economic Studies on RNA Editing
- Senate President Announces Major Legislation to Advance Massachusetts Health Care Reform
- Astellas to Move Clinical Development Base to U.S.
- Provectus Pharmaceuticals Receives US Patent Allowance to Provide Further Protection for Novel Photodynamic Drug PH-12
- Medwatch: Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate)
- Breast Cancer Risk Lingered Years after Women Discontinued Estrogen-Progestin Therapy, Stanford Researcher Says
- WHI Findings Published in JAMA Do Not Affect Clinical Guidance for the Appropriate Use of Hormone Therapy
March 5, 2008
- Pfizer Presents New Opportunities for Global Growth
- Medicure Announces Corporate Restructuring
- PDL BioPharma Ends Sale Process for Company and Restructures to Focus on Antibody Discovery and Development
March 6, 2008
- Kyowa Hakko and Amgen Enter Licensing Agreement for Anti-CCR4 Humanized Monoclonal Antibody
- IMPAX Comments on Lawsuit Related to Generic Version of Detrol LA
- Kyowa Hakko and Amgen Enter Licensing Agreement for Anti-CCR4 Humanized Monoclonal Antibody
- IMPAX Comments on Lawsuit Related to Generic Version of Detrol LA
- GSK Statement on MHRA Investigation
- GSK Investigation Concludes
- Sensor Necklace Aims to Increase Drug Compliance
- FDA Updates Safety Information for Long Acting Beta Agonists
- Mental Health Parity Laudable, But House Legislation Would Put Medicaid Patients at Risk, Lilly Says
- PhRMA Statement on Mental Health Parity Legislation
- Celgene and Pharmion Announce Shareholder Vote in Favor of Acquisition of Pharmion
- Kennedy, Ramstad Announce Historic Passage of Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Bill
- FDA Warns Companies Importing and Marketing Drugs Over the Internet that Fraudulently Claim to Prevent and Treat STDs
- Marcadia Biotech, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc. Enter Strategic Collaboration
- Wyeth To Appeal Arkansas Hormone Therapy Trial Verdicts
March 7, 2008
- Abbott to Collaborate With Genentech, Roche and OSI on Molecular Test for Lung Cancer Therapy Response
- Genta Announces Licensing Agreement for Worldwide Development and Commercialization of a Leading Oral Taxane, Tesetaxel
- Alkermes Provides Update on Inhaled Insulin Program
- Pfizer Wins Challenge to Two Main U.S. Patents for Celebrex by Generic Manufacturer Teva
- AVANT Announces Completed Merger with Celldex and 1-for-12 Reverse Stock Split
March 10, 2008
- Lilly Announces Termination of AIR Insulin Program
- A Successful 2007 Paves the Way for Future of Nycomed
- Immunicon Corporation Announces Corporate Restructuring
- Cerimon to Conduct a Proof of Concept Study for Basiliximab for Noninfectious Uveitis, a Potentially Sight-Threatening Inflammation of the Eye
- Amgen Announces Update to U.S. Prescribing Information for Aranesp and Epogen
- Conclusion of Co-Development and Co-Marketing Agreement on Z-338 for Functional Dyspepsia in Japan with Astellas Pharma Inc.
- Curis Announces Conclusion of Hedgehog Agonist Collaboration with Wyeth
- Tongjitang Receives Proposal to Acquire All Outstanding Shares of the Company
- Hagens Berman: Eleven Defendants Settle in Average Wholesale Price Litigation
March 11, 2008
- Cytogen Announces Definitive Merger Agreement with EUSA PHARMA for $0.62 per Share in Cash
- Totality of Available Data Reaffirms Procrit (Epoetin alfa) Is Safe and Effective When Used Appropriately as Labeled to Treat Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia
- OmniLytics Enters Collaboration with Elanco
- FDA Names Permanent Director for Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
- Congresswoman Schwartz Calls on EPA to Establish a National Taskforce to Investigate Pharmaceuticals in America’s Water Supply
- Pipex Pharmaceuticals Announces Cost Reduction Measures
- Microbicide Developer Receives License for Novel HIV Microbicide Candidate From Merck & Co., Inc.
- Pfizer's Waxman to Leave
- U.S. Patent Office Upholds Two Additional Human Embryonic Stem Cell Patents in Reexamination Decisions
March 12, 2008
- Trial Date Set For Seroquel Patent Litigation
- FDA approval of Abbott's Simcor marks start of co-promotion with Solvay
- IMS Health Reports U.S. Prescription Sales Grew 3.8 Percent in 2007, to $286.5 Billion
- FDA Agrees to Amend Dendreon's Special Protocol Assessment for Phase 3 IMPACT Study of Provenge
- Connecticut AG Blumenthal Sues Eli Lilly For Illegally Marketing Antipsychotic Drug Zyprexa For Unapproved Uses
- China Aoxing Pharmaceutical Company Signed Definitive Acquisition Agreement to Acquire Shijiazhuang Lerentang Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd.
- Memory Pharmaceuticals Refocuses to Advance Development and Clinical Programs
- Med Ad News Announces Nominees for the 19th Annual Manny Awards
- Suven Establishes Second CNS Drug Discovery Collaboration with Lilly
- M's Science and Eisai Sign Option Agreement for Sigma Agonist SA4503
- FDA and Tibotec Dear Healthcare Professional Letter Regarding New Prescribing Information for Prezista (darunavir)
March 13, 2008
- FDA MedWatch - Prezista (darunavir)- Reports Of Drug Induced Hepatitis In Patients Receiving Prezista/Ritonavir
- FDA MedWatch- Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents- Studies Indicate Increased Mortality And More Rapid Tumor Progression In Patients With Cancer Receiving ESAs
- Statement from Eli Lilly and Company: Response to Connecticut Attorney General News Release
- Immtech Announces Update on Business Operations
- Eularis Exposes Hidden Barriers to Patient Adherence With New Pharmaceutical Industry Report
- Roche NimbleGen and Affymetrix Expand Licensing Agreement
- Silence Therapeutics and AstraZeneca Announce Collaboration to Develop Novel Approaches for siRNA Drug Delivery
March 14, 2008
- Option to Develop Exelixis Compound Exercised By Genentech
- Lilly and Transition Therapeutics Announce Licensing and Collaboration Agreement
- Sen. Kohl Requests Documents from Schering-Plough Regarding “49 Plan” Sales Push
- Genentech Provides Business Update at Annual Investment Community Meeting
- Genmab and PDL BioPharma Close Sale of Antibody Manufacturing Facility
- Ceragenix Completes Patient Visit Phase of Clinical Trial Study to Compare Efficacy of EpiCeram to Elidel
- Bostwick Laboratories Announces Initial Public Offering
- Ortho Biotech Statement on U.S. Food and Drug Administration Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee Vote
March 17, 2008
- FDA Takes Next Step in Establishing Overseas Presence
- Merck Scientists Apply Innovative Research Method to Identify Changes in Gene Networks Linked to Obesity
- Statement from Eli Lilly and Company: Response to Today's New York Times Article, 'Lilly E-Mail Discussed Off-Label Drug Use'
- Reps. Eshoo, Barton Introduce Pathway for Biosimilars Act
- FDA Indicates That Genasense Approval in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Will Require Additional Confirmatory Data
- Amgen and Wyeth Announce Updates to U.S. Prescribing Information for Enbrel
- As Problems Surface, Consumerlab.com and the People's Pharmacy Ask FDA to Disclose Differences Between Generic and Original Drugs
- Oriola-KD to Enter Growing Russian Pharmaceutical Retail and Wholesale Markets
- Dynavax and Merck & Co., Inc. Report Clinical Hold of Investigational Vaccine Heplisav
March 18, 2008
- Pharmacopeia to Receive $5 Million Payment from GlaxoSmithKline
- OSI Pharmaceuticals Announces That the Prior Revocation of Its European DP-IV Patent Has Been Upheld
- Baxter's Board of Directors Approves New Share Repurchase Authorization of $2 Billion
- Barr's PLIVA Subsidiary to Terminate GDR Deposit Agreement and Delist From London Stock Exchange
- Ingenuity Systems Extends Enterprise-Level Software Agreement With GlaxoSmithKline
- MedWatch - Tiotropium (marketed as Spiriva HandiHaler): Ongoing Safety Review - Possible Increased Risk of Stroke
March 19, 2008
- Kosan Restructures Workforce to Focus Resources on Lead Clinical Programs
- Former Intermune CEO W. Scott Harkonen Indicted for Wire Fraud and FDA Violations
- Merck Serono Launches Cyanokit in Japan
- Florida, 18 States Sue Abbott Laboratories for Blocking Generic Prescription Competition
- Alkermes Announces Restructuring
- Cenix BioScience Signs Framework Research Agreement with AstraZeneca for RNAi-Based Drug Discovery
- Galderma Announces HSR Clearance for Its Proposal to Acquire CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals
- MedCap Urges Vote Against Proposed VaxGen Merger With Raven biotechnologies
March 20, 2008
- European CHMP Issues Positive Opinion for Viread for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B
- Pharming To Receive Negative Opinion On European Marketing Authorization Application For Rhucin
- Price of Medicine May Affect Its Efficacy According to Stanford Business School Research
- Takeda, Abbott Announce Plans to Conclude TAP Joint Venture
- EPIX Pharmaceuticals Announces Discontinuation of PRX-00023 Clinical Development Program
- UCB Advises US-Physicians to Down-Titrate Patients on Neupro In View of Out-of-Stock Situation in the US
- Bellwether Industry’s Confidence In UK Slumps – ABPI/CBI Survey
- Medicare Announces Expanded Coverage for Warfarin Patients Monitoring Clotting Time at Home
March 21, 2008
- Federal Court of Appeal in Canada Upholds Lipitor Enantiomer Patent, Decision Prevents Launch of Generic Product by Ranbaxy until 2010
- American Health Packaging Announces a Recall of Approximately 1,400 Units of Heparin Sodium Vial Products as Part of Broader Baxter Recall
- EMEA Concludes New Advice to Doctors and Patients for Tysabri (natalizumab) Needed
- EMEA Recommends New Contraindication for Velcade (bortezomib)
- Opexa Therapeutics Announces Retirement of CEO David McWilliams
March 24, 2008
- Free Drug Samples May Burden Patients' Pockets
- CytRx Submits Response to FDA Related to Clinical Program with Arimoclomol in ALS
- MedWatch - B. Braun Heparin Sodium Injection Solutions - Recall due to heparin-like contaminant
- STG Media Corp. Combines Forces with Internet Solutions Provider Salient Digital, Inc. to Form STG Interactive
- Biovail Reaches Settlement With SEC, Provides Update On OSC Investigation
- R&D Spending by U.S. Biopharmaceutical Companies Reaches Record $58.8 Billion in 2007
- Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro: Nationwide Class Action Certified in Average Wholesale Price Litigation
- R&D Spending by U.S. Biopharmaceutical Companies Reaches Record $58.8 Billion in 2007
March 25, 2008
- Jama Editor-in-chief Comments on Pfizer Lawsuit
- Sonus Pharmaceuticals Refines Strategic Initiatives
- Drug Alerts Sent Instantly to U.S. Doctors via Email on New National Network
- Health Care Services M&A Posts Second-Highest Dollar Level in 2007, According to Irving Levin Associates, Inc.
- Shire plc: IFRS Results for the Year Ending December 31, 2007
March 26, 2008
- Evotec's Registration Statement in Connection With its Proposed Acquisition of Renovis Declared Effective
- Bayer Schering Pharma Starts New Campaign - Restore the Man
- State of Alaska and Eli Lilly and Company Reach Agreement to Settle Zyprexa Lawsuit
- Plastic Surgery Procedures Maintain Steady Growth in 2007
- Surveys Find Key Changes in the Role of the Pharmaceutical CFO
- FDA Makes Recommendations on Medical Devices That Treat Blocked Heart Arteries
March 27, 2008
- FDA Sends Warning Letter to King Pharmaceuticals Over Avinza File Card
- FDA Deadlines May Compromise Drug Safety by Rushing Approval
- Pfizer Clears U.S. Antitrust Review for Acquisition of All Outstanding Shares of Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Aida Acquires High-Level Research Institute in China
- Progen Restructures Manufacturing and Drug Discovery Divisions
- Pegintron Plus Weight-Based Rebetol Resulted in Higher SVR Than Flat Dosing; Low Relapse Rates in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C
- FDA MedWatch- Singulair (montelukast)- Possible Association Between Use Of Singulair And Behavior/Mood Changes, Suicidality, And Suicide
- Phoenix Healthcare Reports on Cholesterol Patients' Reactions to Publicity and Press Stories
- Otsuka to Pay More Than $4 Million to Resolve Off-Label Marketing Allegations Involving Abilify
- FDA MedWatch- Regranex (becaplermin) Gel- Study Data Suggests Possible Increased Risk Of Death From Cancer In Diabetic Patients Using The Product
- FDA MedWatch- Ziagen (abacavir) and Videx (Didanosine)- Study Date Indicates A Higher Risk of Heart Attack In Patients Infected With HIV-1 Taking Ziagen Or Videx
March 28, 2008
- FDA issues a Communication about an Ongoing Safety Review Regranex (becaplermin)
- VaxGen and Raven Terminate Merger Agreement
- Otsuka to Pay More than $4 Million to Resolve off-label Marketing Allegations Involving Abilify
- Discontinuation of Development of TAK-475, a Compound for Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia
- Medicines Australia Sets World-First in Transparency
