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US Senator Herb Kohl (Democrat, Wisconsin), Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, last week sent letters to six leading pharmaceutical firms making the 12 most-prescribed drugs in the USA, asking them to explain why Americans pay an average of twice as much for prescription drugs as other industrialized nations. 23 March 2010
Biotechnology
After a year-long process, the USA's House of Representatives yesterday - in an extremely unusual Sunday sitting - voted by just a slim majority of 219-212 passing revised bill health care reform cleared by the Senate last December and 219-212 on a companion bill, making changes to the earlier Senate bill. 22 March 2010
Generics
Along with Malta and Denmark, Germany is the only European country where pharmaceutical companies can set prices for branded drugs with no interference from the state. That is about to change, according to German Health Minister Philipp Roesler. 'I'm going to break the pricing monopoly of the pharmacceutical industry,' he told Bild Zeitung newspaper last week. 22 March 2010
Biotechnology
A small number of drugs and treatments for very rare conditions, that are not yet appropriate for the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisal process, can now be considered for use in the National Health Service, UK Health Minister Mike O'Brien announced last Friday. This will help give patients with very rare and extremely rare conditions access to a wider range of drugs and services, he said. 22 March 2010
Generics
Although the Peruvian pharmaceutical market is the smallest of those in Business Monitor International's 's coverage of the Latin American region, nevertheless, the country offers considerable longer-term benefits to foreign companies, not least because its population is expected to top 30 million by the end of 2010. 22 March 2010
Generics
While brand-name and generic drug makers are applauding the latest change to the US House of Representatives' health care reform bill - eliminating the ban on patent settlements, or pay-to-delay arrangements, which are not included in the Senate version (The Pharma Letter March 18), such legislation is still supported by President Barack Obama. 19 March 2010
Pharmaceutical
The annual meeting of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) yesterday saw the election of US drug behemoth Pfizer's chairman and chief executive, Jeffrey Kindler, elected as board chairman of at the trade association. Also elected were French major Sanofi-Aventis CEO Christopher Viehbacher as chairman-elect, and John Lechleiter, chairman, president and CEO of Eli Lilly, as board treasurer. Mr Kindler succeeds David Brennan, CEO of Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca. 19 March 2010
Generics
US Senator Charles Grassley (Republican, Iowa, and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance) has asked leaders among pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to describe their efforts to enhance the transparency of financial benefits they receive from drug makers. He also requested the PBMs' views on recommendations from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission that PBMs be subject to a national disclosure requirement. 18 March 2010
Pharmaceutical
The USA's Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has just released an estimate of the budgetary effects of the health bill, HR 3590, that passed the Senate on December 24, 2009, which differs from the estimate for a slightly earlier version of the legislation that was released on December 19 last year. 17 March 2010
Pharmaceutical
With US President Barack Obama running out of time to get the stalled health care reform back on track by the Easter congressional recess which starts March 26, there is disturbing news from the US Chamber of Commerce, which has released public opinion polls in 10 key congressional districts - all of which showed voters oppose current health care legislation being discussed in Congress, with substantial majorities saying it will raise the cost of their health care. 17 March 2010
Biotechnology
On March 9, Sir James Dyson published his 'Ingenious Britain' report on how to make the UK the leading high tech exporter in Europe. The report was commissioned by Britain's Conservative Party, which welcomed Sir James' conclusions. 16 March 2010
Generics
Despite a background of falling Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and primary economic indicators for the country, the Russian pharmaceutical market in 2009 was able to show growth in ruble terms, according to new research from DSM group, one of Russia's leading market research agencies. 16 March 2010
Pharmaceutical
Brazil's long-running battle with the USA over cotton subsidies, after the former won its argument through a World Trade Organization arbitration panel last year, took another step forward this week after the government finally announced the list of American product - which were expected to include pharmaceuticals - on which it would raise tariffs in retaliation. 12 March 2010
Generics
The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) has reiterated its appeal for additional funding of the Food and Drug Administration in order that copy medicines can come to the market more quickly, as the anticipated drug 'patent cliff' floods the agency with ever more applications. 11 March 2010
Pharmaceutical
The European Commission yesterday announced the results of its 18 million-euro ($24.5 million) call for proposals for new research projects on influenza. Four collaborative research projects have been shortlisted for funding. They involve 52 research institutes and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 18 European countries and three international partners (Israel, China and the USA). 10 March 2010
Pharmaceutical
The Drug Tracking System (İTS), introduced to Turkey's pharmaceutical sector as of January 1, 2010, cannot be effectively implemented by the parties due to the uncertainties with the system. The situation puts manufacturers in a tight corner while causing difficulties in the access of patients to medicines, claims the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, the AiFD. 10 March 2010
Biotechnology
Between 2003-2008, Russia witnessed robust economic growth, attributed mainly to strong ruble and high oil prices in the international market. The growth was also supported by surge in domestic demand and increased investment in the country. 9 March 2010
Generics
Leaders of the US Senate Judiciary Committee last week announced details of an agreement on long-pending legislation to make reforms to the nation's patent system. The new bill ostensibly makes significant steps toward resolving longstanding differences in legislative efforts to modernize US law for patent quality and efficiency, and make it more compatible with international laws. 8 March 2010
Generics
Intellectual property IP matters are once again attracting the attention of the Brazilian population. This is mainly due to two important events to be debated this month that may affect the pharmaceutical industry and international trade. 8 March 2010
Pharmaceutical
The US Food and Drug Administration came in for criticism from the Government Accountability Office, which last week issued a report saying that the agency is not fulfilling its oversight obligation regarding its Office of Criminal Investigation. The report is the result of a review called for in 2009 by Senator Charles Grassley (Republican, Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance. 8 March 2010
Pharmaceutical
The nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr — known as RFK Jr — for the role of US Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) President-elect Donald Trump sent shares in vaccine companies sharply downwards. 22 November 2024
article
The UK government has reappointed BioIndustry Association (BIA) chairman Daniel Mahony as its Life Sciences Investment Envoy. 21 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
The Danish government’s newly-unveiled health reform has been praised for tackling chronic disease care and health inequalities while driving health innovation. 18 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
New research published by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) provides in-depth analysis of the economic footprint of the pharmaceutical industry in Europe, across member states and compares Europe to other regions of the world. 18 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Johnson & Johnson has taken legal action to defend a contentious rebate initiative, filing a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. 15 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
The share prices of Pfizer, GSK, Novavax and other vaccine companies were all markedly lower on Friday. This was not due to the publication of disappointing research results in the sphere, or an ominous stance taken by a major regulator on a key filing, but rather a political development that could spell trouble for the vaccines field as a whole. 15 November 2024
Biotechnology
BeiGene has announced plans to rebrand as BeOne Medicines, a move the cancer specialist says reflects its commitment to fighting cancer through collaboration. 15 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Danish patients are being offered fewer innovative treatments than Norwegians and Swedes, a new estimate from the Danish Medicines Council shows. 11 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
According to the Swedish pharma trade group Lif, it is positive that, in the updated life science strategy, the government expresses an ambition for Sweden to become more attractive for research investments. 11 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Li Li, Commissioner of China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), and Mette Aaboe Hansen, interim director general of Danish Medicines Agency, have signed a letter of intent to promote bilateral cooperation in regulation of drugs and medical devices. 11 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Following the news that Donald Trump is the winner of the 2024 US Presidential Election, Morningstar Equity analyst Julie Utterback has published a new note about the impact of this on the managed-care industry. 7 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
UK pharma major AstraZeneca, which has invested heavily in China, hosted a sell-side analyst call on Wednesday (November 6) to discuss the recent media reports about ongoing investigations in China. 7 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Some of the UK’s leading academics and industry professionals have welcomed Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ £520 million ($669 million) pledge to develop the country’s medicine manufacturing capabilities. 6 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
European regulators will decide by December 6 whether Novo Holdings, the controlling shareholder of Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk, can finalize its $16.5 billion acquisition of contract drug manufacturer Catalent. 5 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
The Danish government is rolling out the red carpet and welcomes several pharmaceutical companies. 4 November 2024
Generics
Medicines for Europe has launched a study of market barriers faced by European generics and biosimilar pharmaceutical companies operating in 11 key third-country markets. 31 October 2024
Pharmaceutical
Following the first Labour budget for 14 years, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) welcomes Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ measures to improve UK life sciences competitiveness. 30 October 2024
Pharmaceutical
HOPO Therapeutics has been awarded a contract valued at up to $226 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). 29 October 2024
Pharmaceutical
The Danish government has presented part of the plan for a future life science strategy, which has been welcomed by the industry. 28 October 2024
Biotechnology
Legend Biotech has removed Genscript Biotech as its majority shareholder, in a move coinciding with rising US concerns over Chinese ties within the biotech sector. 24 October 2024
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