Pharmaceutical Industry News Archive
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March 2009
March 2
ZymoGenetics Collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Clears Review Under Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
Obama Expected to Nominate Sebelius Health Secretary
Lilly Announces Leadership Changes
United States Files Suit Against Missouri-Based Pharmaceutical to Block Manufacturing and Shipping of Unapproved Drugs
March 3
Pfizer Expands Portfolio of Generic Medicines in the U.S. and Europe Through Licensing Agreements with Aurobindo
Bayer: Corporate Strategy Proves Effective in a Difficult Environment
Pfizer and Bausch & Lomb to Co-Promote Products for the Treatment of Ophthalmic Conditions
Epsilon Study Shows 'Healthy' Response to Email from Pharma Companies
FDA Warning Letter to Genzyme Related to the Allston Manufacturing Facility
Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Organizational Changes; Names Four to Company's Executive Committee
March 4
Bristol-Myers Squibb Names Andreotti President and Chief Operating Officer
Acusphere Announces Further Cost Reductions and Voluntary Filing of Form 15 to Suspend SEC Reporting Obligations
Combined Use of Antiplatelet, Gastric Acid Medications Following Heart Attack or Angina Associated With Increased Risk of Death, Hospitalization
US Food and Drug Administration Stresses Science-Based Compliance and Open Lines of Communication for 2009
Wyeth Comments on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in Levine Preemption Case
Astellas Terminates Agreement on Antipsychotic Agent ASP2314/ACR-16
March 5
Bradmer Implements Cash Conservation Plan
Sens. Dorgan, Snowe, Mccain, Stabenow Introduce Bipartisan Prescription Drug Imporation Bill
Sen. Grassley: It should be legal to buy prescription drugs from other countries
NICE Refuses Funding for Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment, Tyverb (lapatinib)
CVS Caremark May be Violating Privacy of Hundreds of Thousands of Floridians, According to CtW
March 6
Apex Bioventures Acquisition Corp. To Seek Stockholder Approval To Liquidate and Dissolve
Astellas to Nominate Two Directors and Submit Proposal to Remove Remaining Four Directors of CV Therapeutics
OPKO Health Announces Update on Phase III Clinical Trial of Bevasiranib
FDA Sends Gilead Letter Over Statements Made By Gilead Representative
Genentech Urges Shareholders to Take No Action With Respect to Revised Offer From Roche
Roche Increases Offer Price for Genentech Shares to US$ 93 Per Share and Extends Offer
March 9
Watson Pharmaceuticals and Elan Settle Lawsuit Over Naproxen Sodium
Merck and Schering-Plough to Merge
Consumer Watchdog: Health Insurers & Drug Companies Contributed $5.5 Million to Top 10 Senate and House Recipients Since 2005
IDM Pharma's Mepact (Mifamurtide, L-MTP-PE) Receives Approval in Europe for Treatment of Patients with Non-Metastatic, Resectable Osteosarcoma
Schering-Plough Withdraws From Barclays Capital Global Healthcare Conference
March 10
Lilly Granted Temporary Restraining Order to Halt Launch of Generic Raloxifene
CytoDyn Responds to FDA as High Court Rules Agency Cannot Guarantee Drug Safety
Nurse Practitioners Don't Realize How Much Their Prescribing is Being Influenced By Drug Marketing
FDA Sends Genzyme Letter Over Conditions at Massachusetts Plant
R&D Spending by U.S. Biopharmaceutical Companies Reaches Record Levels in 2008 Despite Economic Challenges
March 12
Roche and Genentech Reach a Friendly Agreement to Combine the Two Organizations and Create a Leader in Healthcare Innovation
Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News Magazine Launches Online Supplier Video Resource For Packaging Industry
Bipartisan Group of Members Introduces “Promoting Innovation and Access to Life-Saving Medicines Act”
Gilead Sciences Agrees to Acquire CV Therapeutics for $20.00 Per Share
EPIX Pharmaceuticals Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Financial Results
Table Reservations Open to Healthcare Advertising Agencies for the 20th Annual Med Ad News Manny Awards
CV Therapeutics' Board of Directors Rejects Astellas' Tender Offer
March 13
Settlement Hearing on Schering-Plough Corporation Securities Litigation to be Held on June 1, 2009 at 2:00 P.M.
Approval of Clevudine for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B in the Philippines
Synta Restructures Organization to Focus on New Priorities
Patrick Administration Passes Tough New Rules Governing Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industries
New FDA Heads Must Resist Fear
March 16
Astellas to Terminate Offer for CV Therapeutics
WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Barack Obama Announces Key FDA Appointments and Tougher Food Safety Measures
Med Ad News Launches Online Forum Connecting Pharmaceutical Professionals With Industry Experts
Roche Acquires Innovatis AG to Complement Its Product Portfolio in the Rapidly Growing Area of Cellular Analytics
Paul Chew Appointed to sanofi-aventis U.S. Chief Science Officer/Chief Medical Officer
March 17
Consumer Reports Poll: 66% of Americans Blindsided by Cost of Drugs; Many Not Taking Needed Medications
Med Ad News Magazine Announces Nominees for the 20th Annual Manny Awards as Well as Advertising Person of the Year
Cytos Biotechnology Announces Alignment of Resources Following Setback in the Development of its Hypertension Vaccine CYT006-AngQb
EBE Calls for Urgent Action
New Type of Botulinum Toxin Appears to Be Well Tolerated and May Help Reduce Forehead Wrinkles
March 18
Statement by Teva Pharmaceuticals on Eshoo-Barton Bill
Schering-Plough Europe Withdraws Its Marketing Authorisation Application For Cylatron (peginterferon alfa-2b)
Merck Statement on New Jersey Court Ruling Denying Certification of Class of Plaintiffs Seeking Reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Vioxx Costs
PharmaLive.com Launches New Drugs Outlook Report
Reps. Eshoo, Inslee, and Barton Introduce Pathway for Biosimilars Act
Warner Chilcott Announces Receipt of FDA Response to Citizen Petition
March 19
Cortex Pharmaceuticals Announces Corporate Restructuring and Workforce Reduction
Teva and Medicis Announce Settlement Agreement
FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval of Multaq (dronedarone)
Ex-Pfizer Manager Found Guilty of Obstruction
IMS Health Reports U.S. Prescription Sales Grew 1.3 Percent in 2008 to $291 Billion
March 20
Poniard Pharmaceuticals to Focus Company Resources on Late-Stage Oncology Candidate Picoplatin Through Realignment of Research Organization
Shire Files Lawsuit Against Mylan for Infringement of Fosrenol (Lanthanum Carbonate) Patent
Forest Laboratories, Inc. Announces FDA Approval of Lexapro for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in Adolescents
Adventrx Announces Further Cost-Cutting Measures
March 23
March 24
Hospira Announces Plans to Optimize Operations, Increase Shareholder Value
Merck & Co., Inc. Provides Update on Previously-Disclosed U.S. Department of Justice Investigation Relating to Vioxx
GSK Publishes 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report
Fablyn Approved in Europe for the Treatment of Osteoporosis
March 25
March 26
Roche Completes Tender Offer for Genentech
Neurobiological Technologies Announces Hiring of Advisor to Seek Sale of Company
Avigen Board Discontinues Strategic Merger Discussions to Develop a Plan for Liquidation
New Report Finds FDA is Overfunded, Overstaffed, and Costs Lives
CVS Caremark's Objectionable Drug Marketing Practices Raised at Massachusetts Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Hearing Today, According to CtW
March 27
Akela and Nventa Announce Merger
Evotec AG (DE) - Evotec Restructures and Implements "Evotec 2012 - Action Plan to Focus and Grow"
InSite Vision Announces Restructuring to Support 2009 Strategic Priorities
Osiris Discontinues Enrollment in Crohn's Study Due to Concerns with Trial Design
Senators Announce Bipartisan Proposal To Bring Generic Biologic Drugs To Market, Saving Billions In Medicare Costs
Takeda Establishes Presence in Canada
IMS, SDI Seek U.S. Supreme Court Review in Critical First Amendment Case
Regional Biotech Association Warns Vermont Legislation Could Have Profound Negative Impact
March 30
March 31
Genzyme and Bayer HealthCare Enter New Strategic Agreement
Shire and GlaxoSmithKline Enter Agreement to Co-promote Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) CII for the Treatment of Adults With ADHD
Dyax to Focus Resources on DX-88 Commercial Launch with Reduction in Force
Takeda to Create Global Centers of Excellence
Cardinal Health to Reduce Workforce to Respond to Economic Conditions
FDA Advisory Committee Unanimously Recommends Accelerated Approval of Avastin for Previously Treated Brain Cancer (Glioblastoma)
Delaware Court Rules That Watson Does Not Infringe Patent Related to Generic Version of Concerta and Declares Patent Invalid
Cialis, Cymbalta Lead 2008’s Most Recalled Drug Ads
