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Top Ten most popular articles on Pharmafile.com this week

pharmafile | August 3, 2018 | News story | Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing EMA, EU, GSK, Sanofi, brexit, pharmafile, top 10 

While average temperatures dropped to a comfortable 22 degrees, the past week has put the EMA in a sticky position as their landlord served them a £500 million bill for unpaid rent. Meanwhile the EU agency announced that an estimated 30% of staff are likely to leave as they make their move to Amsterdam.

However it was more bad news for Britain in a week dominated by Brexit, Brexit, Brexit, as Sanofi announced they were stockpiling drugs, while the government dusted off plans to bring in the armed forces to transport food and medicines in the case of a no deal exit from the European Union. 

Workers have also had a hard time this week as two were injured in Ireland while 1000 were made redundant as GSK closed facilities in Bangladesh. At the same time big pharma were accused of funding terror during the Iraq War.

Nevertheless, on a note of positivity Pfizer and Sandoz racked up EU approvals for various bisoimilars, while biosimilars and generics were revealed to have save the NHS £324 million in the last financial year.

Check out the week’s ten most popular articles on Pharmafile.com now!

10. Biosimilars and generics saved NHS £324m last year

It has been revealed that the British National Health Service saved £324 million last financial year by using more cost effective biosimilars and generics. The watchdog NHS Improvement noted that the biosimilar and generic drugs are just as safe and effective as the more expensive, original versions.

9. Two injured in chemical incident at Sanofi lab in Ireland

One of the victims is said to be in a serious condition and may be required to be transferred to another hospital over the coming days, but the injuries to both have been described as non-life threatening.

8. Pfizer notches two EU approvals, including Herceptin biosimilar

Pfizer is patting itself on the back after securing two new approvals in Europe within 24 hours: Xeljanz for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, and its biosimilar Trazimera in the treatment of HER2 overexpressing breast cancer and HER2 overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

7. EU Commission grants market authorisation for Sandoz’ Humira biosimilar

The European Commission has granted marketing authorisation to Sandoz’ biosimilar Hyrimoz for use in all indications, including rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, uveitis and ulcerative colitis.

6. EMA to cut activities as it forecasts loss of 30% of staff

The European Medicines Agency is set to enact temporary cuts in activities as it prepares for significant disruption in the wake of Brexit.

5. GSK announces closure of Bangladesh facilities

The British multinational GlaxoSmithKline has announced the closure of its facilities in Bangladesh after more than six decades of operation in the densely populated South Asian country.

4. Landlord demands EMA pay £500m for Canary Wharf lease

A British landlord is taking the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to court over a £500 million bill for unpaid rent.

3. Army to ferry medicines in case of no-deal Brexit

Ministers have established plans to use the army to deliver medicines, food and fuel in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

2. Lawsuit alleges pharma giants funded terror in Iraq

The United States Justice Department is investigating claims that major pharmaceutical and medical device companies were aware that supplies that they gave to the Iraqi government would be used to fund terror attacks against American troops.

1. Sanofi join AstraZeneca and MSD in stockpiling medicines, 1800 jobs at risk

French multinational Sanofi have begun stockpiling drugs in preparation for a no-deal Brexit.

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