Content about Biotechnology

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Generic drug maker Hospira has joined the country's largest lobby for the generic drug industry, the company said.

Hospira, which specializes in generic injectables and infusion technology, announced that it had joined the Generic Pharmaceutical Association. In addition to generic pharmaceuticals, the company also makes biosimilars for the European market.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Valeant Pharmaceuticals is set to acquire a privately owned ophthalmic biotechnology company, the drug maker said Monday.

Valeant said it will acquire Eyetech upfront payment and potential future milestones. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close this week. Additional details were not disclosed.

SAN DIEGO — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a long-acting injected diabetes drug made by Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Alkermes, the two companies said.

The FDA approved Bydureon (exenatide), which the companies called the first once-weekly treatment for Type 2 diabetes. The drug will become available in February.

With the patent cliff and subsequent innovation drought moving closer, generic drug makers are looking to move up the value chain and pursue new sources of revenue, and of all the piles of pay dirt out there, biosimilars represent one of the closest things to an El Dorado, though regulations won’t take their final form for a while.


HOLZKIRCHEN, Germany — Drug maker Sandoz has started two late-stage clinical trials of biosimilar drugs for treating cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the company said Thursday, saying the studies were meant to support the drugs' eventual marketing in the United States.

PHILADELPHIA — Drug makers will focus on patient-specific therapies instead of drugs designed for use by a broad range of people over the next decade, according to a new report released Thursday by Thomson Reuters.

The report, titled "The Changing Role of Chemistry in Drug Discovery" and based on drug industry productivity, patent data and other dynamics and trends, was released in recognition of the International Year of Chemistry 2011.

NEW YORK — The Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program on Wednesday recommended that Emergent Health modify or discontinue certain Internet advertising claims for the company’s “JDI MultiVitamin,” promoted by the advertiser as designed to “increase adult stem cells.” The marketer voluntarily modified several claims at issue in ERSP’s inquiry.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is responding to a flu vaccination campaign by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by lowering prices on flu vaccinations, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

To mark National Influenza Vaccination Week, the retailer is offering flu shots for $19.99 through Dec. 17.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — Generic drug maker Par Pharmaceutical has promoted Thomas Haughey to president and Paul Campanelli to COO, the company said. The promotions take effect immediately.

"With the acquisition of Anchen and the pending acquisition of Edict, Par is becoming a larger and more complex organization with three diverse locations and more than 300 additional employees," Par chairman and CEO Patrick LePore said. "These new challenges and opportunities require a president and COO to effectively manage the company and its subsidiaries."

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — The increase in the number of people with rheumatoid arthritis, and the challenges posed to drug makers by generics, is encouraging the development of new drugs for the disease, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Biotechnology company Signum Biosciences has entered a collaborative agreement with GlaxoSmithKline whereby GSK will receive the exclusive right to Signum's proprietary phosphatase screening technology.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly & Co. for treating head and neck cancer, the agency said Monday.

The FDA announced the approval of Erbitux (cetuximab) for use with chemotherapy in treating head and neck cancer that had spread to other parts of the body. The drug originally was approved in 2004 for treating certain cases of late-stage colon cancer in patients who had stopped responding to chemotherapy.