02.02.2012

What Pharma Can Learn from the Tobacco Industry

Billion-Dollar Industry - The illicit trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals is worth an estimated $200 billion a year and has obvious implications for public health. A range of anti-counterfeiting measures are currently underway or under consideration. These measures include, at country level, reimbursement initiatives, e-pedigree and covert authentication, and, at EU level, co-operation agreements and the directive on Falsified Medicines. more30.01.2012

Valeant Withdraws Its Bid For ISTA Pharmaceuticals

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International said on Monday it has withdrawn its sweetened takeover bid for ISTA Pharmaceuticals, citing a lack of progress. "We were not interested in participating in a lengthy evaluation process and we are disappointed that the ISTA team was not willing to fully explore our proposal by January 31," said Valeant Chief Executive Michael Pearson in a statement. more30.01.2012

Saltigo Examines the State of Custom Manufacturing in the New Year

Optimism Springs Eternal - 2011 was a year fraught with uncertainties, and many industries are wearily eyeing the year to come. The state of the worldwide economy as well as the health of the 10-year-old euro has many concerned about what the next months will bring. However, reports from mainstream media seem to differ from the mood within the chemical industry. Here, the outlook is overwhelmingly positive; the sector went through a lot of changes after the crisis that began at the end of 2008, and most in the industry are ready to face any challenges ahead. more25.01.2012

Interoperability in the Pharma Supply Chain

Framework - When asked, most people say that they believe regulations should avoid dictating specific technologies but instead should dictate desired outcomes and let industry figure out the best technologies to achieve them. The concern is usually that technologies mandated in regulations will inevitably grow old and the regulated industry would then be blocked from taking advantage of newer, more innovative technologies. more24.01.2012

EU Agency Issues Guideline on Biosimilar MS Drugs

European regulators took another step towards opening the market for copies of biotech drugs on by releasing a draft guideline on how companies should test biosimilar medicines containing interferon beta, used to treat multiple sclerosis. The guideline is open for consultation until the end of May 2012 and is part of a package of new regulations being prepared by the London-based agency. more24.01.2012

Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals

The War Continues - The European Union's Falsified Medicines directive, ratified in 2011, was arguably the most significant landmark to date in the war on fake drugs.

The law will require (from around 2016) a traceable safety feature and tamper evident closure on almost all prescription medical products sold in the EU. Mark Davison, CEO of Blue Sphere Health, examines some of the approaches his customers are using to comply with the directive and other legal obligations around the world. more22.12.2011

Pharma Asks The Money Question Earlier For New Drugs

GlaxoSmithKline executive German Pasteris is in charge of an Alzheimer's treatment that is years from reaching the market, if it ever does. But he already wants to make sure the global healthcare system will pay for it. more22.12.2011

AstraZeneca, Novartis and Sanofi Douse Hopes For New Drugs

Three of Europe's biggest drugmakers - AstraZeneca, Novartis and Sanofi - reported product setbacks, underlining the difficulties of developing new medicines to make up for those going off patent. more15.11.2011

Healthcare Reform in the U.S.: What Supreme Court Ruling Could Mean

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide the fate of President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law in the coming year, charting a course that will have an impact on the 2012 election campaign, the law, the healthcare industry and the states. more27.10.2011

All-round Pharma Service Providers See Potential in Asia, Elsewhere

The challenges facing the pharma industry today - impending patent cliff, pressure coming from pharmerging markets, etc. - make the playing field rife with opportunities for pharma service providers. Innovation in the pharmaceuticals ingredients industry is being driven by ... more