Packer Forbes boosts team with two recruits
February 23, 2012Medical Communications Packer Forbes
Specialist healthcare consultancy Packer Forbes Communications has announced two new appointments. Two graduate recruits have been brought on board to …
Obesity drug supported by FDA panel
February 23, 2012Sales and Marketing FDA, Qnexa, Vivus, Xenical, obesity
Vivus’ obesity drug Qnexa has been supported by an FDA panel, two years after it was knocked back by the …
GPs to ‘prescribe’ apps for patients
February 22, 2012Medical Communications GPs, Lansley, NHS, apps
Family doctors in England could soon be asked to ‘prescribe’ apps to patients to help them manage their medical conditions. …
EMA to open up drug evaluation process
February 22, 2012Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing CHMP, EMA, FDA
The European Medicines Agency will publish ongoing drug evaluations in an effort to make its processes more transparent. The Agency …
CCGs already helping patients, says Lansley
February 22, 2012CCGs, Lansley, NHS, NHS reform
The government has set out a number of ways in which its controversial health reforms are already benefiting patients. The …
Alex Gorsky named new chief executive of J&J
February 22, 2012Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing Alex Gorsky, J&J, JJ, Janssen, Weldon
Johnson & Johnson has named Alex Gorsky as its new chief executive, effective from 26 April. Gorsky was also nominated …
Takeda’s ulcerative colitis drug gets Phase III boost
February 22, 2012Research and Development
Takeda’s ulcerative colitis drug vedolizumab has succeeded in a late-stage trial. The Phase III trial studied vedolizumab in 895 patients …
Publicis buys Chinese med comms firm
February 22, 2012Medical Communications Publicis Life Brands Watermelon, UBS, publicis
Publicis has acquired Chinese healthcare communications firm U-Link Business Solutions (UBS), adding to its portfolio in Asia.UBS will become part …
Caprelsa approved in Europe for thyroid cancer
February 21, 2012Sales and Marketing AstraZeneca, Caprelsa, FDA, RET, thyroid cancer
The European Commission has approved AstraZeneca’s thyroid cancer pill Caprelsa. Caprelsa (vandetanib) is now available in Europe for the treatment …
Zytiga approved in Wales – for now
February 21, 2012Sales and Marketing AWMSG, CDF, Janssen, NICE, Wales, Zytiga
Janssen’s cancer treatment Zytiga has been approved in Wales, in contrast to its rejection by NICE. The All Wales Medicines …
Working Life: Georg Toufar, director, Mundipharma
February 21, 2012Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing Georg Toufar, Mundipharma, Working Life
Georg Toufar is director of European marketing and sales and member of the executive committee at Mundipharma International Limited (MINT). …
Bayer eye drug succeeds in long-term study
February 21, 2012Research and Development, Sales and Marketing Bayer, Lucentis, aflibercept, wet AMD
Bayer’s eye drug aflibercept has succeeded in a long-term study in patients with a common eye condition. The Phase III …
MHRA suspends Teva licence for levothyroxine generic
February 21, 2012Manufacturing and Production MHRA, Numark, Teva, levothyroxine
The UK medicine regulatory authority has suspended the licence for a levothyroxine product sold by Teva on the grounds that …
Contract research news in brief
February 21, 2012Research and Development Almac, GVK Biosciences and PreClinOmics/AIT, PPD, Quintiles
Our round-up of news from the contract research sector includes PPD’s sales to a private equity consortium, new clinical supply …
Asymchem plans additional investment in Dunhua facility
February 21, 2012Manufacturing and Production Asymchem, China, Dunhua, manufacturing
China’s Asymchem Laboratories says it plans to invest another $12 million in its recently-opened manufacturing facility in Dunhua, Jilin province, …
Setback for Gilead hep C candidate
February 20, 2012Research and Development, Sales and Marketing ELECTRON, GS-7977, Gilead, Pharmasset
Gilead’s investigational hepatitis C drug has been dealt a blow after patients suffer relapses in a mid-stage trial. In the …
Shortages likely as Sandoz’s Canadian plant woes continue
February 20, 2012Manufacturing and Production FDA, Novartis, Sandoz
Ongoing compliance problems at a plant in Canada operated by Novartis’ generics subsidiary Sandoz look set to cause supply disruptions …
Pfizer closes in on $545m China generics deal
February 20, 2012Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing China, Hisun, Pfizer, Zhejiang, generics
Pfizer has moved a step closer to a deal with Shanghai-based Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical to develop generic drugs in China. …
Health Information appoints Nigel Brooksby as its deputy chairman
February 20, 2012Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing ABPI, Brooksby, Health Information
Health Information, a provider of medicine adherence services in the UK, has appointed former ABPI president Nigel Brooksby as its …
European approval for Roche’s Zelboraf
February 20, 2012Sales and Marketing Cancer, Roche, Yervoy, Zelboraf, melanoma
Roche’s skin cancer pill Zelboraf has been given European approval to treat advanced melanoma. Zelboraf (vemurafenib) is now available in …
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