Author Archive
Spending On Direct-To-Consumer Prescription Drug Ads Decreases, Study Finds
Spending on direct-to-consumer advertisements for medications has decreased for the second consecutive year, according to a study recently released by TNS Media Intelligence, the AP/Albany Times Union reports. According to the study, spending on such ads reached a high of $5.43 billion in 2006 and decreased by 3% to $5.
Merck & Co. Inc. Announces Voluntary Delisting From Philadelphia Stock Exchange
Merck & Co., Inc. announced today the Company’s intention to voluntarily delist its common shares from the NASDAQ OMX - PHLX, Inc., formerly the Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX), following a decision by the exchange to discontinue the PHLX XLE equity trading platform. Common shares of Merck will continue to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MRK. About Merck Merck & Co., Inc.
Fitch Revises Merck & Co.’s Ratings Outlook To Negative
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Merck & Co.’s (Merck) ratings, and revised the Rating Outlook to Negative from Stable. The ratings affirmed are: –Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘AA-’; –Senior unsecured debt rating at ‘AA-’; –Bank loan rating at ‘AA-’; –Short-term IDR at ‘F1+’. The ratings apply to approximately $6.93 billion of outstanding debt. The Rating Outlook is Negative.
Nontoxic Nanoparticle Can Deliver And Track Drugs
A nontoxic nanoparticle developed by Penn State researchers is proving to be an all-around effective delivery system for both therapeutic drugs and the fluorescent dyes that can track their delivery.
Government And Industry In Drug Price Deal, Informs Department Of Health, UK
A new deal reached today between the Government and the pharmaceutical industry means that more patients will benefit from a wider range of innovative drug treatments at a fair price to the NHS. The flexible pricing scheme agreed will ensure that medicines fairly reflect their value to patients, branded drugs will see their price cut, and industry innovations will be encouraged and rewarded.
Drug Information Association (DIA) Opens New Office In China
The Drug Information Association (DIA), the premier, multidisciplinary, non-profit association that provides a neutral forum for the exchange of information critical to the advancement of the drug discovery and lifecycle management processes, has opened an office in Beijing, China. “China’s pharmaceutical industry has become a major force in drug discovery and development,” explains William Brassington, Acting DIA Worldwide Executive Director.
Long-Term TITAN Study Evaluates PREZISTA(R)/ritonavir Vs. Lopinavir/ritonavir As Part Of HIV Combination Therapy In Treatment-Experienced Adults
Tibotec recently announced long-term study results from a phase 3 clinical trial, which compared PREZISTA(R) (darunavir)/ritonavir to lopinavir/ritonavir, as part of HIV combination therapy, in lopinavir/r-naive, treatment-experienced HIV-1 infected adults. A 96-week resistance analysis from the study, known as TITAN, was presented in an oral presentation at the Ninth International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection (HIV9) in Glasgow, UK on November 13, 2008.
XTL Biopharmaceuticals Announces Top-Line Results From The Bicifadine Phase 2b Study For Diabetic Neuropathic Pain
XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. (Nasdaq: XTLB; TASE: XTL) announced the top-line results from the Bicifadine Phase 2b clinical trial for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain. The trial’s primary objective was to compare the efficacy of two doses of Bicifadine against placebo in reducing pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. The primary endpoint of the study was the reduction in pain score during the course of treatment.
Metabolex Announces Positive Results From Phase 2 Clinical Trial Of MBX-8025
Metabolex, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary new medicines for the treatment of metabolic diseases, announced positive results from a Phase 2 clinical trial of MBX-8025. A summary of the results was presented at the World Congress on Controversies to Consensus in Diabetes, Obesity and Hypertension (CODHy) on November 1, 2008. MBX-8025 is an oral drug candidate that is being evaluated for the treatment of dyslipidemia.
8,000 Pharmaceutical Scientists To Gather In Atlanta For The American Association Of Pharmaceutical Scientists’ Annual Meeting And Exposition
On November 16-20, 2008, 8,000 of the world’s most prominent pharmaceutical scientists will put their best research on paper and present their findings at the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition. This year’s meeting will take place in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Cyclosporin Human Neuroprotection Validated By Maas Biolab Scientists
Maas Biolab researchers CSO Eskil Elmér, M.D., Ph.D. and neuroscientist Magnus Hansson, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues have for the first time ever demonstrated the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) or “megapore” occurs in viable adult human neuron mitochondria and the ability of cyclosporin-A to block its formation. These effects had previously been well characterized in animal neuroprotection studies and have now been validated in human brain tissue.
Chronic Plaque Psoriasis - 2nd Case Of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy In A Raptiva Patient
Genentech, Inc. (NYSE:DNA) announced today that the company has issued a Dear Healthcare Provider letter to inform dermatologists and neurologists of a 2nd case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) which resulted in the death of a 73-year old woman who had received Raptiva® (efalizumab) for approximately four years for treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis.
ISPE And FDC-Windhover Team Up To Offer PharmAsia News
ISPE, a global not-for-profit association of 25,000 pharmaceutical science and manufacturing professionals, and FDC-Windhover announced today that the two organizations have teamed up to provide discounted subscriptions of PharmAsia News to ISPE Members, as well as complimentary access to monthly articles.
The Future Of Physician Customer Service Portals - Report Reveals Market Data And Best Practices For Biopharma Companies
Over the past year, physician visitation to customer service portals decreased while interest in using them actually increased. To help biopharma companies bridge the gap between the current portal landscape and unmet physician demand, Manhattan Research just released its latest physician module report, “The Case for Customer Care: Service Portals and a Successfully Integrated CRM System” as part of its ePharma Physicianâ v8.0 market research and strategic advisory service.
EGFR-Targeting Antibody Licensed To Abbott
The international Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) has announced that one of its spin-off companies, Life Science Pharmaceuticals, has licensed its lead cancer therapy candidate, antibody 806, to pharmaceutical company Abbott. The 806 antibody targets the EGFR cell surface protein but - crucially - only when the protein is over-expressed (over-produced) in cancer. Overexpression of EGFR occurs in more than 50% of some types of cancers.
GeneThera Releases Results From Initial Animal Tests Of E.Coli O157:h7 Vaccine Amid News Of Increase Of E.Coli Discoveries In Beef Products
GeneThera, Inc. (Pink Sheets: GTHR), released information about its E.Coli O157:H7 vaccine. The vaccine consists of Live Attenuated Bacterial Vaccine to Reduce or Inhibit Carriage and Shedding of Enterohemorrihagic Escherichia Coli in Cattle. This vaccine was developed for use against Shiga toxin-producing E.Coli (STEC) in cattle. This strategy is to construct mutants that have deletion in the genes responsible for E.Coli O157:H7 toxicity.
FREEDOM-C Trial Of Oral Treprostinil In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Fails To Meet Primary Endpoint
United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR) announced the results of the FREEDOM-C trial of oral treprostinil, a sustained-release formulation of treprostinil, in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Preliminary analysis demonstrates that the trial did not achieve statistical significance for the primary endpoint, six minute walk (6MW) distance at Week 16.
Innocoll Receives Fast Track Designation For Gentamicin Surgical Implant
Innocoll, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, announced that the FDA has designated Gentamicin SURGICAL Implant as a Fast Track development program. GENTAMICIN SURGICAL IMPLANT is currently being evaluated in two phase III clinical trials as an adjunct to systemic antibiotic administration for the prevention of surgical site infections in patients who are at higher risk of developing surgical site infections.
Prometheus Presents New Clinical Insights Into Diagnosis Of Crohn’s Disease In Children From Analysis Of PROMETHEUS(R) IBD Serology 7 Test Results
Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic company, announced new findings regarding the correlation between serologic markers and the diagnostic predictions of children with Crohn’s disease following an analysis of PROMETHEUS(R) IBD Serology 7 test results.
TOSHIBA Dramatically Advances Biosensor Technology
Cambridge Research Laboratory of Toshiba Research Europe Ltd has developed a novel, label-free biosensor platform, which is expected to significantly shorten the total biomolecular assay process, saving days or even weeks of research time. The platform is capable of combining multiple array experiments in one single instance on a wide variety of biomolecules such as antibodies and other proteins.
