Content about Pfizer

October 11, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Mylan’s promethazine hydrochloride tablets, a generic drug for treating allergies, in the 12.5-mg, 25-mg and 50-mg strengths.

SUPPLIER NEWS — The Food and Drug Administration has approved Mylan’s promethazine hydrochloride tablets, a generic drug for treating allergies, in the 12.5-mg, 25-mg and 50-mg strengths. Promethazine hydrochloride tablets, which are manufactured by several companies, had sales of about $42 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.


October 10, 2011

Depomed has launched a new drug for treating shingles, the drug maker said Monday.

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Depomed has launched a new drug for treating shingles, the drug maker said Monday.

The company announced the launch of Gralise (gabapentin) tablets, a once-daily treatment for postherpetic neuralgia, the pain that follows healing of the rash associated with shingles.

Gralise is a proprietary formulation of gabapentin that uses patented polymer technology that enables gradual release of the drug. Depomed said it is not interchangeable with other branded or generic gabapentin-based drugs.

 

October 7, 2011

Watson Pharmaceuticals is looking to become the first to market a generic version of a painkiller made by Pfizer, the drug maker said Friday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is looking to become the first to market a generic version of a painkiller made by Pfizer, the drug maker said Friday.

Watson said it filed a regulatory approval application with the Food and Drug Administration for morphine sulfate and naltrexone hydrochloride extended-release capsules in the 30-mg/1.2-mg, 50-mg/2-mg, 60-mg/2.4-mg, 80-mg/3.2-mg and 100-mg/4-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Embeda, made by Pfizer subsidiary King Pharmaceuticals.

September 29, 2011

Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized $5.6 million worth of illegal pharmaceutical products, a 170% increase over 2005. Meanwhile, global sales of counterfeit medicines were estimated to be more than $75 billion last year, 90% more than in 2005. In response, Pfizer and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy announced Thursday the launch of an effort to educate patients on how to safely buy medicines online and about the risks of counterfeit drugs.

NEW YORK — Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized $5.6 million worth of illegal pharmaceutical products, a 170% increase over 2005. Meanwhile, global sales of counterfeit medicines were estimated to be more than $75 billion last year, 90% more than in 2005.

In response, Pfizer and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy announced Thursday the launch of an effort to educate patients on how to safely buy medicines online and about the risks of counterfeit drugs.

September 21, 2011

The offering period for Pfizer's acquisition of Icagen has expired, allowing the former to purchase more than 5 million shares in the company, Pfizer said.

NEW YORK — The offering period for Pfizer's acquisition of Icagen has expired, allowing the former to purchase more than 5 million shares in the company, Pfizer said.

Pfizer said that as of Monday, 5.4 million shares of Icagen had been put up for sale. Along with the 1.1 million shares Pfizer already owns, this would give it control of 70.2% of Icagen, which develops drugs for pain and other conditions. Pfizer plans to acquire the remaining shares as well.

September 12, 2011


As the clock winds down on the patent exclusivity of the industry’s biggest blockbuster drug in November, speculation continues to grow that Pfizer will look to flip the switch on an OTC version of Lipitor (atorvastatin) before generic competition whittles away at the $7 billion behemoth. 



As the clock winds down on the patent exclusivity of the industry’s biggest blockbuster drug in November, speculation continues to grow that Pfizer will look to flip the switch on an OTC version of Lipitor (atorvastatin) before generic competition whittles away at the $7 billion behemoth. 


September 12, 2011

At press time, Hurricane Irene was slowly barreling toward the East Coast and threatening the area with a deluge that prompted cities to shut down and had store shelves wiped clean.


At press time, Hurricane Irene was slowly barreling toward the East Coast and threatening the area with a deluge that prompted cities to shut down and had store shelves wiped clean.


September 9, 2011

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare on Thursday announced the launch of Centrum Specialist, a line of enhanced multivitamins aimed at specific health priorities, including prenatal, vision, energy and heart health.

MADISON, N.J. — Pfizer Consumer Healthcare on Thursday announced the launch of Centrum Specialist, a line of enhanced multivitamins aimed at specific health priorities, including prenatal, vision, energy and heart health.

September 8, 2011

Ranbaxy Labs will launch its generic version of the world's top-selling drug as originally planned, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Ranbaxy Labs will launch its generic version of the world's top-selling drug as originally planned, according to published reports.

Citing Japan's Nikkei daily, Reuters reported that Gurgaon, India-based Ranbaxy would launch a generic version of Pfizer's cholesterol medication Lipitor (atorvastatin) at the end of November.

September 6, 2011

Pfizer has completed its initial cash tender offer for all the shares of drug maker Icagen that it doesn't already own, Pfizer said Tuesday.

NEW YORK — Pfizer has completed its initial cash tender offer for all the shares of drug maker Icagen that it doesn't already own, Pfizer said Tuesday.

Pfizer, which already owns an 11% stake in Icagen, announced Thursday that it would acquire a majority stake in the company. As of Friday, when the initial tender offer period expired, about 4.6 million shares of Icagen had been put up for sale; combined with Pfizer's existing stake, this represents about 64% of the North Carolina-based maker of drugs for pain, epilepsy and inflammation.

September 1, 2011

Pfizer and Dr. Reddy's have reached a settlement over the latter's efforts to launch a generic version of the world's top-selling drug, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Pfizer and Dr. Reddy's have reached a settlement over the latter's efforts to launch a generic version of the world's top-selling drug, according to published reports.

September 1, 2011

After entering a definitive agreement to acquire biopharmaceutical company Icagen, Pfizer has extended its tender offer for all outstanding shares of common stock.

NEW YORK — After entering a definitive agreement to acquire biopharmaceutical company Icagen, Pfizer has extended its tender offer for all outstanding shares of common stock.

Pfizer, which already has an 11% stake in Icagen, is offering the company a cash transaction of $6 per share. The tender offer, which was extended to Icagen through Pfizer's wholly owned subsidiary Eclipse Acquisition, expires at midnight on Sept. 1.

All other terms and conditions of the tender offer remain unchanged.

August 30, 2011

The VP strategic alliances and partnerships for Pfizer's oncology division has joined the corporate advisory board at a development-stage oncology and dermatology biopharmaceutical company.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The VP strategic alliances and partnerships for Pfizer's oncology division has joined the corporate advisory board at a development-stage oncology and dermatology biopharmaceutical company.

Provectus Pharmaceuticals said that the company will benefit from Craig Eagle's "vast experience in drug development" as the drug maker seeks to commercialize its cancer and dermatological therapies.

August 29, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new cancer drug made by Pfizer, the drug maker said.

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new cancer drug made by Pfizer, the drug maker said.

The FDA approved Pfizer's Xalkori (crizotinib) capsules, a treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer that has advanced locally or spread to other parts of the body, also known as metastasis. The drug specifically is designed to target NSCLC containing the enzyme anaplastic lymphoma kinase, as determined by a companion test also approved by the FDA.

August 29, 2011

A drug made by Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb undergoing late-stage clinical trials was more effective than the generic drug warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation, according to study results released Sunday.

NEW YORK — A drug made by Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb undergoing late-stage clinical trials was more effective than the generic drug warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation, according to study results released Sunday.

The phase-3 "ARISTOTLE" trial of Eliquis (apixaban) showed that the drug reduced the risk of stroke and systemic embolism by 21%, major bleeding by 31% and death by 11% in AF patients. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was conducted at 1,034 centers in 39 countries and enrolled 18,201 patients.

August 24, 2011


A worldwide flood of counterfeit and unsafe medications is seeping into the United States and other developed countries via the Internet and porous borders, threatening public health and the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain.


A worldwide flood of counterfeit and unsafe medications is seeping into the United States and other developed countries via the Internet and porous borders, threatening public health and the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain. In response, federal drug safety overseers and such drug manufacturers as Pfizer are working to shore up the integrity of drug supplies and stop production of fake and adulterated pharmaceuticals at their source.


August 24, 2011

The final outcome of the battle between Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Canada’s Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to buy Cephalon serves as a good illustration of why it helps to have a plan B.


The final outcome of the battle between Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Canada’s Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to buy Cephalon serves as a good illustration of why it helps to have a plan B.


In May, Teva beat out Valeant’s $5.7 billion offer to buy Frazier, Pa.-based Cephalon with a $6.8 billion offer of its own, acquiring Cephalon’s hefty pipeline in the process. And last month, Teva bought Taiyo Pharmaceutical Industry, Japan’s third-largest generics company, for $934 million.


August 19, 2011

While Indian generic drug maker Ranbaxy Labs is expected by many to launch a generic version of a cholesterol drug made by Pfizer later this year, it may have to sell its rights to it if it can't win Food and Drug Administration approval in time, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — While Indian generic drug maker Ranbaxy Labs is expected by many to launch a generic version of a cholesterol drug made by Pfizer later this year, it may have to sell its rights to it if it can't win Food and Drug Administration approval in time, according to published reports.

Citing Credit Suisse analysts, Bloomberg reported that the FDA may delay approval of Ranbaxy's version of Lipitor (atorvastatin), which would prevent it from marketing the drug starting Nov. 30, as it has planned to do.

August 17, 2011

Perrigo is planning to launch more than 45 new products in fiscal 2012 that will translate into approximately $190 million added to annual Perrigo sales, Perrigo chairman, president and CEO Joe Papa told analysts during the company's fourth-quarter conference call Tuesday.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo is planning to launch more than 45 new products in fiscal 2012 that will translate into approximately $190 million added to annual Perrigo sales, Perrigo chairman, president and CEO Joe Papa told analysts during the company's fourth-quarter conference call Tuesday.

And while none of these new over-the-counter private-label products will help reduce cholesterol levels, Papa did set the stage for a future store-brand equivalent to Pfizer's blockbuster statin Lipitor.

August 15, 2011

Pfizer announced that the patent for its popular erectile dysfunction treatment was upheld in court.

NEW YORK — Pfizer announced that the patent for its popular erectile dysfunction treatment was upheld in court.

The drug maker said that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia concluded that Pfizer's patent for Viagra was valid and enforceable and prevents generic drug maker Teva from marketing its version of the drug until October 2019. Pfizer noted that litigation on the same patent remains pending against other generic companies, but no trials are scheduled in those other cases.

The court's decision, however, is subject to appeal by Teva.

August 11, 2011

Pfizer will invest up to $50 million over the next five years in drug discovery and development under a collaboration with the University of California San Diego Health Sciences, the drug maker said.

NEW YORK — Pfizer will invest up to $50 million over the next five years in drug discovery and development under a collaboration with the University of California San Diego Health Sciences, the drug maker said.

August 9, 2011

Prescription savings program Together Rx Access announced that it has appointed a Pfizer executive to serve as its board of managers chairman.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Prescription savings program Together Rx Access announced that it has appointed a Pfizer executive to serve as its board of managers chairman.

August 9, 2011

Hetero is at the center of two patent litigation suits for attempting to market generic versions of Viagra and Nexium, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Hetero is at the center of two patent litigation suits for attempting to market generic versions of Viagra and Nexium, according to published reports.

August 4, 2011

Pfizer Consumer on Thursday announced that its calcium supplement brand Caltrate is partnering with actress Dana Delany to celebrate inspiring women as part of an initiative called "Women Move the World." As part of the celebration, Caltrate also has become a national sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

NEW YORK — Pfizer Consumer on Thursday announced that its calcium supplement brand Caltrate is partnering with actress Dana Delany to celebrate inspiring women as part of an initiative called "Women Move the World." As part of the celebration, Caltrate also has become a national sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

August 4, 2011

The world's top-selling drug may become available over the counter, if its manufacturer has its way, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — The world's top-selling drug may become available over the counter, if its manufacturer has its way, according to published reports.

The New York Times reported that Pfizer may be looking for Food and Drug Administration approval for an OTC switch for Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), a cholesterol-lowering medication. The Times quoted an unnamed source as providing the information, though Pfizer declined to comment.