1. “The top 10 pharma companies by
2013 revenue” 03/04/2014
After the major patent crashes of 2012, last
year was more of a transitional period. Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Roche,
GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly and Bayer saw their revenues rise, although only
J&J and Bayer had an appreciable change. Pfizer, Sanofi, Merck & Co.
and AstraZeneca were on the revenue eroding spectrum.
2. “First test to predict Alzheimer’s years in
advance” 03/10/2014
Howard Federoff at Georgetown University and
his colleagues performed the world’s first blood test to predict Alzheimer’s
disease prior to symptom development. The test identifies 10 chemicals in the
blood associated with the disease two to three years before symptoms start, but
they might be able to predict the disease decades earlier.
3. “Tamiflu study funded by Roche shows lives
saved in pandemic” 03/19/2014
The antiviral drug Tamiflu reduced the risk of
death by 25 percent among adults hospitalized during the 2009 H1N1 swine flu
pandemic. Although treatment of Tamiflu reduced the risk of death in many
groups of adults, it didn’t show a significant change in reduction of death
risk of pregnant women and severely ill patients.
4. “Astellas Pharma and Daiichi Sankyo Form
Compound Library Sharing Partnership” 03/20/2014
Astellas Pharma and Daiichi Sankyo have
unveiled plans for a compound-library sharing partnership, the largest such
pact to be formed in Japan. The collaboration involves exchange of some 400,000
selected compounds including a significant number of proprietary synthetic
compounds from the companies’ respective libraries.
5. “37 new Parkinson’s disease medicines now
in R&D” 03/27/2014
US biopharmaceutical companies now have 37 new
medicines in development for Parkinson’s disease – 23 to treat the disease, 11
for related conditions and three diagnostics, according to new industry data.
All 23 new products are now either in clinical trials or under by the US Food
and Drug Administration (FDA), say the report, from research-based industry
group the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). There
are around 10 million patients worldwide and approximately 600,000 additional
patients are newly diagnosed in each year.
6. “Antibacterial Drugs Market Expected to
Reach USD 45.09 Billion Globally in 2019: Transparency Market Research”
03/28/2014
According to a new market report published by
Transparency Market Research, the global antibacterial drugs market will reach
an estimated value of $45.09 billion in 2019. Factors such as increasing
prevalence of infectious diseases and rising demand for effective as well as
affordable antibacterial drugs especially from emerging economies of
Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa are the major growth
drivers for the antibacterial drugs market.
7. “Pharmacy automation market to grow 8.8
percent annually by 2018” 04/10/2014
Wellesley-based market research firm BCC
Research reported Thursday that it expects the global pharmacy automation
market to grow to nearly $4.9 billion in 2018, with a five-year compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8% percent.
8. “FDA approves Tanzeum to treat type 2
diabetes” 04/16/2014
The U.S. FDA approved GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s
Tanzeum injection for treating adults with type 2 diabetes, in combination with
diet and exercise. Analysts expect the drug to hit $4,430 million in sales by
2018, according to Thomson Reuters data.
9. “Teva settles patent litigation with Pfizer
over generic of Celebrex” 04/18/2014
Teva’s U.S. subsidiary has entered into a
settlement with Pfizer Inc. over Teva’s generic version of Celebrex. Celebrex,
a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, or NSAID medication, typically is used to treat
the pain caused by arthritis. Under the terms of the settlement, Teva may
launch its generic versions in the U.S. in December 2014, or earlier.
10. “FDA backs Janssen’s Sylvant for rare disease”
04/23/2014
The U.S. FDA approved Johnson & Johnson
subsidiary Janssen Biotech’s Sylvant (siltuximab) to treat patients with
multicentric Castleman’s disease (MCD), a rare disorder similar to lymphoma
(cancer of the lymph nodes).
11. “Forest Labs to Acquire Furiex
Pharmaceutical for Up to $1.5 billion” 04/28/2014
Forest labs agreed to pay $95 a share for the
drug development collaboration company, Furex Pharmaceuticals Inc. in a deal
worth up to $1.5 billion that would expand Forest Lab’s presence in
gastroenterology.
12. “A First: Lab Grown Epidermis with Functional
Permeability Barrier” 04/30/2014
The first lab-grown epidermis offers an
inexpensive alternative lab model for testing drugs and cosmetics. It could
also pave a path for new therapies’ development for uncommon and common skin
problems.
13. “Report: Drug prices skyrocketing, with no
end in sight.” 05/01/2014
Despite a wave of M&A deals aimed at
increasing efficiency and lowering expenses in the pharmaceutical industry,
drug prices continue to rise, with several drug companies nearly doubling the costs
of key products over the last 7 years. These companies are Merck, Novartis, Eli
Lilly and Pfizer.
14. “Scientists concern over Pfizer bid for
AZ” 05/01/2014
The UK’s medical research collective has come
together to warn the government that any deal between US-based Pfizer and
Britain-based AstraZeneca, could have far-reaching consequences for R&D in
the Country. They are concerned that these consolidations of large pharmas may
reduce R&D investment across the industry. The scientists are now calling
on prime minister David Cameron and the coalition government to lead the way by
setting up a ‘Pharmaceutical Council’ which would bring together medical
charities, funding bodies, businesses academics, the NHS and academic societies
to keep Britain at the ‘forefront of drug discovery’.
15. “Bayer deal to expand consumer business
with Merck deal” 05/06/2014
The German drug maker Bayer said on Tuesday
that it had agreed to acquire Merck’s consumer care business for $14.2 billion,
a deal which will make Bayer one of the largest providers of over-the-counter
products. This deal would give Bayer control of several well-known brands,
including Coppertone, Claritin, and Dr. Scholl’s.
16. “FDA looks at effectiveness of generic
blood pressure drugs” 05/07/2014
Generic drugs make 80% of the prescriptions
written in the U.S. saving billions of dollars to payers annually. However,
their effectiveness has always been questioned. FDA has been testing.
17. “Sovaldi ‘biggest selling drug’ by 2020”
05/14/2014
According to UK market intelligence company,
Evaluate, Gilead’s hepatitis C treatment Sovaldi will top the list of biggest
selling drugs in 2020.
18. “Growth foreseen at all levels of the oral
solid dosage form excipients market, according to Kline” 05/15/2014
The oral solid dosage form (OSDF) excipients
market is growing sustainably, historically exhibiting a robust increase on a
global scale. This market is valued at nearly $2.3 billion in the U.S., Europe,
India and China. In the emerging Indian and Chinese markets, growth in
consumption of excipients is driven by rising incomes and willingness to spend
more on healthcare. Key factors driving growth in major markets like the U.S.
and Europe include the aging populations and high demand for pharmaceuticals.