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Pharmaceutical
The Bolivian government is to establish a pharmaceutical company based on traditional indigenous medicine, Health Minister Ramiro Tapia announced, saying that $10 million will be invested in the project, reports The New Herald newspaper. 7 January 2010
Generics
Proposals that would allow the automatic dispensing of generic medicines instead of branded drugs in primary care, even if the prescribing doctor or nurse has written a prescription for a brand, resulting in long term savings for the National Health Service, were set out yesterday by the UK Department of Health. The consultation will run from January 5 to March 30 of this year. 6 January 2010
Biotechnology
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will soon send a modified Biomedical Research Human Subjects Promotion and Regulation Bill to the Union Health Ministry for its final approval before introducing it in Parliament. 6 January 2010
Pharmaceutical
The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), which represents the research-based industry in Europe, has named Andrew Witty as its new president. Mr Witty, who is chief executive of UK-based drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline, officially took up this post on January 1, succeeding outgoing president Arthur Higgins, CEO of Bayer HealthCare, a position he is also relinquishing for personal reasons. 5 January 2010
Pharmaceutical
Member states of the Council of Europe are set to launch an emergency debate and inquiry this month on the influence of pharmaceutical companies on the global swine flu campaign, focusing especially on the extent to which the industry influenced the World Health Organization regarding this issue, according to an article by F William Engdahl writing in Global Research 5 January 2010
Pharmaceutical
The government of Zimbabwe is set to support the production of medical drugs locally in the next three years with a view to improving availability and affordability instead of relying on imports, the Short Term Emergency Recovery Pro-gramme two (STERP II) has indicated, reported the local newspaper The Herald. 5 January 2010
Pharmaceutical
The Spanish medical newspaper Diario Medico has picked up an analysis of the debate around the direction of the Strategic of Pharmaceutical Policy Plan and on the review of the present system of drug reference pricing. 4 January 2010
Biotechnology
The early morning of Christmas Eve saw a positive final vote - 60 to 39 - in the US Senate for health care reform legislation, passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act proposed by Majority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat, Nevada), who himself had a moment of confusion, voting 'no' before quickly correcting himself. 4 January 2010
Generics
By an executive Decree (No 181) in late December 2009, the Ecuadorian President, Rafael Correa, ordered the creation of a public pharmaceutical company called ENFARMA PA, in what looks to local observers like an attempt by the government to monopolize the drug industry. 4 January 2010
Pharmaceutical
US senators are preparing to vote on the final Senate version of a historic health care reform after yesterday's 60-39 vote to end debate on the controversial measure, which is expected to cost $871 billion. This was welcomed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said: 'we stand on the doorstep of history.' 24 December 2009
Biotechnology
Few people ' or businesses ' were buoyed up by last week's UK Pre-Budget Report (PBR). But bosses in one sector had big smiles on their faces. The Chancellor's decision to slash corporation tax on income derived from patents to just 10% was great news for Britain's big pharma firms 23 December 2009
Pharmaceutical
After weeks of deliberation, the US senate has passed ' by a 60 to 40 vote - the highly controversial $849 billion Health Care Reform Bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat, Nevada) and. designed to secure coverage for millions of uninsured Americans, that could lead to significant changes in the country's medical system (The Pharma Letters passim). 21 December 2009
Pharmaceutical
Ahead of the crucial Senate debate and vote late on Sunday/Monday morning (see separate story), the December Kaiser Health Tracking Poll found a dip on several measures of public opinion on health care reform. The number of Americans who say they personally will be better off if reform passes fell to 35% in December, down from 42% last month. 21 December 2009
Pharmaceutical
Japan's Expert Subcommittee on National Health Insurance Drug Pricing, part of the Chuikyo (the Central Social Insurance Medical Council)), at its first meeting since the appointment of new members, has discussed pricing reform, including the system proposed by the Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations of Japan, with a final decision aimed for by year-end. 18 December 2009
Pharmaceutical
The European Medicine's Agency's (EMEA) Management Board adopted the Agency's Work program and draft budget for the year 2010, which marks the final year of the 'Road Map to 2010.' The budget totals 198,187,000 euros (around $289.8 million), compared to 194,389,000 euros in 2009, which includes forecast fee revenue of 152,780,000 euros (2009: 140,966,000 euros) and total European Union contributions of 37,112,000 euros (2009: 46,790,000 euros). The Board approved an increase of 37 posts in the staff numbers to a maximum ceiling of 576 (2009: 530 euros). 18 December 2009
Pharmaceutical
The recently-announced Russian Healthcare Development Program is likely to cause major structural changes in the country's pharmaceutical market and create new opportunities for foreign investors. The main aim of the government-introduced program is to ameliorate the quality and availability of health care, thereby improving overall social well-being. 17 December 2009
Generics
In a move that could put pressure on HIV/AIDS drugmakers to ease control of their patented products, yesterday the French-backed health fund UNITAID said that its executive board has made a landmark decision to establish a Patent Pool for AIDS medicines. The organization's founder members include the UK, Chile, Brazil, Norway and France. 17 December 2009
Pharmaceutical
The USA's Federal Trade Commission has submitted a comment supporting a proposed rule by the US Department of Health and Human Services that is designed to improve the information that health insurers give to enrollees in Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug benefit plans, so that such people can better select a plan that suits their needs. The FTC says it supports the HHS' proposed rule changes, because these will help reduce enrollee confusion and make it easier for consumers to compare plans. 17 December 2009
Pharmaceutical
The US Senate yesterday rejected an amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that would help make prescription drugs more affordable by allowing for the importation of lower priced drugs from abroad. The bipartisan amendment was sponsored by Senators Byron Dorgan (Democrat, North Dakota), Olympia Snowe (Republican, Maine), John McCain (Republican, Arizona) and others. 16 December 2009
Pharmaceutical
The UK has dropped to bottom of the official league table comparing the price of medicines across Europe, a Government report has revealed. For the first time, the UK lags behind Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. 16 December 2009
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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