Content about Pharmaceutical companies

April 22, 2012
Consumer care

A lot has happened across GlaxoSmithKline’s consumer division in the past year. Drug Store News spoke with GSK Consumer chief marketing officer John Graham and chief customer officer Keith Loranger about the next move to be made out of the consumer division’s new playbook.

A lot has happened across GlaxoSmithKline’s consumer division in the past year. Drug Store News spoke with GSK Consumer chief marketing officer John Graham and chief customer officer Keith Loranger about the next move to be made out of the consumer division’s new playbook.

August 23, 2012
J&J, GSK start phase-3 trial program for rheumatoid arthritis drug

A division of Johnson & Johnson has started a late-stage clinical trial program for a drug for rheumatoid arthritis under a partnership with British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline.

SPRING HOUSE, Pa. — A division of Johnson & Johnson has started a late-stage clinical trial program for a drug for rheumatoid arthritis under a partnership with British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline.

August 22, 2012
FDA postpones decision on Pfizer RA drug, citing time needed to review new data

The Food and Drug Administration has postponed its decision whether or not to approve an experimental arthritis drug made by Pfizer, the drug maker said.

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration has postponed its decision whether or not to approve an experimental arthritis drug made by Pfizer, the drug maker said.

Pfizer said the FDA had extended its action date for the drug tofacitinib by three months, to Nov. 21, because additional analyses of data that the company submitted constituted a "major amendment" to Pfizer's regulatory application and will require additional time to review.

August 20, 2012
Bayer Aspirin emphasizes role of internal analgesic

Bayer has been stepping up its game behind its Bayer Advanced Aspirin brand in an attempt to recreate its brand identity from a healthy heart supplement for people who’ve had a heart attack to what Bayer Aspirin had been in its heyday: the internal analgesic of choice.

Bayer has been stepping up its game behind its Bayer Advanced Aspirin brand in an attempt to recreate its brand identity from a healthy heart supplement for people who’ve had a heart attack to what Bayer Aspirin had been in its heyday: the internal analgesic of choice.

August 20, 2012
Sanofi Pasteur announces availability of Sklice head lice lotion

Sanofi's vaccine's division has launched a new treatment for head lice, the company said Monday.

SWIFTWATER, Pa. — Sanofi's vaccine's division has launched a new treatment for head lice, the company said Monday.

Sanofi Pasteur announced the availability of Sklice (ivermectin) lotion in the 0.5% strength. The drug is approved for patients ages 6 months and older.

The company said head lice cases have increased rapidly in the United States, affecting between 6 million and 12 million children ages 3 to 11 years each year.

August 17, 2012
Generics offer affordability for specialty Rx

The U.S. healthcare system presents a paradox: It’s the most expensive system in the world, and yet it produces among the worst results among developed countries.

The U.S. healthcare system presents a paradox: It’s the most expensive system in the world, and yet it produces among the worst results among developed countries. According to the most recent report from the National Health Expenditure Accounts, spending on health care reached $2.6 trillion in 2010, or more than $8,400 per person and around 18% of the country’s gross domestic product.


August 17, 2012
Pfizer names Amy Schulman consumer division chief

Pfizer's general counsel Amy Schulman has assumed the reigns to Pfizer's consumer healthcare business, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week.

NEW YORK — Pfizer's general counsel Amy Schulman has assumed the reigns to Pfizer's consumer healthcare business, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week.

Schulman replaces Cavan Redmond, who was named the CEO of WebMD Health.

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare president Paul Sturman, who directly oversees the day-to-day operations of the consumer division, will now report to Schulman.

 

August 17, 2012
Teva launches authorized generic Actos

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries announced the launch of an authorized generic of a Type 2 diabetes drug.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries announced the launch of an authorized generic of a Type 2 diabetes drug.

The company launched pioglitazone hydrochloride tablets in the 15-mg, 30-mg and 45-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Takeda Pharmaceuticals' Actos.

Annual sales of Actos in the United States were approximately $2.7 billion for the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS sales data.

August 15, 2012
Teva launches generic chemotherapy drug

A division of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched a generic chemotherapy drug, the company said.

IRVINE, Calif. — A division of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has launched a generic chemotherapy drug, the company said.

Teva Health Systems announced the introduction of oxaliplatin injection in the 50-mg and 100-mg strengths.

The drug is a generic version of Sanofi's Eloxatin, which had sales of $1.7 billion during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

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August 15, 2012
Watson sues FDA over generic Actos

Watson Pharmaceuticals is suing the Food and Drug Administration, alleging that an agency decision would improperly delay its release of a generic drug for diabetes, the company said Wednesday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is suing the Food and Drug Administration, alleging that an agency decision would improperly delay its release of a generic drug for diabetes, the company said Wednesday.

August 13, 2012
FDA accepts Teva contraceptive pill application

The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing a regulatory application from Teva for a contraceptive drug, the company said Monday.

FRAZER, Pa. — The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing a regulatory application from Teva for a contraceptive drug, the company said Monday.

Teva Women's Health, part of Israeli drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, announced the FDA's acceptance of its application for Quartette (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol and ethinyl estradiol), which the company called the first ascending-dose, extended regimen oral contraceptive for preventing pregnancy.

August 13, 2012
Sun to take Taro private

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will take Taro Pharmaceutical Industries private, under a merger agreement between the two companies announced Sunday.

MUMBAI, India — Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will take Taro Pharmaceutical Industries private, under a merger agreement between the two companies announced Sunday.

Sun, based in India, has sought to buy Israel-based Taro since 2007 and owns about 77.5% of the latter's shares.

After the merger is complete, Taro will become a privately held company and wholly owned subsidiary of Sun. Taro shareholders will receive $39.50 per share.

August 10, 2012
Mylan launches generic sleep disorder, bipolar disorder drugs

Mylan has launched a generic drug used to treat sleep disorders, the company said Friday.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has launched a generic drug used to treat sleep disorders, the company said Friday.

The generic drug maker announced the launch of modafinil tablets in the 100-mg and 200-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Provigil, made by Cephalon — a company that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries acquired last year — and used to treat narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and shift work disorder.

August 9, 2012
Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca expand diabetes deal

AstraZeneca paid $3.2 billion to Amylin Pharmaceuticals Thursday following the latter's acquisition by Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca and Bristol said.

PRINCETON, N.J. — AstraZeneca paid $3.2 billion to Amylin Pharmaceuticals Thursday following the latter's acquisition by Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca and Bristol said.

The payment was made as part of the expansion of a deal between the drug manufacturers made in 2007 to develop diabetes drugs. Bristol announced Wednesday that it had completed its acquisition of Amylin, making the San Diego-based drug maker a wholly owned subsidiary.

August 9, 2012
Hospira relaunches chemotherapy drug

Hospira has relaunched a generic chemotherapy drug for the U.S. market, the generic drug maker said Thursday.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Hospira has relaunched a generic chemotherapy drug for the U.S. market, the generic drug maker said Thursday.

The company, which specializes in generic injectables, announced the relaunch of oxaliplatin, a version of Sanofi's Eloxatin.

August 9, 2012
Sagent Pharmaceuticals launches oxaliplatin

Drug maker Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic chemotherapy drug, the company said Thursday.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Drug maker Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic chemotherapy drug, the company said Thursday.

Sagent announced the launch of oxaliplatin, a generic version of Sanofi's Eloxatin.

Various versions of the drug had sales of about $1.7 billion during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

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August 8, 2012
Bristol-Myers Squibb purchase of Amylin mostly complete, company says

Bristol-Myers Squibb has bought a majority stake in drug maker Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Bristol said Wednesday.

NEW YORK — Bristol-Myers Squibb has bought a majority stake in drug maker Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Bristol said Wednesday.

The New York-based drug maker said that 140.5 million shares of Amylin had been put up for sale at $31 per share, and that it now owned 85.55% of the San Diego-based company. Bristol said it planned to acquire the rest of Amylin's shares Wednesday as well.

August 8, 2012
Teva, Active Biotech plan third MS drug trial

Drug makers Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Active Biotech will start a third late-stage clinical trial of an experimental drug for treating multiple sclerosis, the companies said Wednesday.

JERUSALEM — Drug makers Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Active Biotech will start a third late-stage clinical trial of an experimental drug for treating multiple sclerosis, the companies said Wednesday.

Israel-based Teva and Sweden-based Active Biotech said they would start a phase-3 trial of laquinimod for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, also known as RRMS, following an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration.

August 6, 2012
Amneal plans $120 million expansion

Generic drug maker Amneal Pharmaceuticals will spend $120 million to expand three of its plants, the company said Monday.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Generic drug maker Amneal Pharmaceuticals will spend $120 million to expand three of its plants, the company said Monday.

Amneal said it would spend the money over a two-year period lasting through 2014 to "significantly" grow operations at research-and-development, manufacturing and distribution plants in New York, New Jersey and Kentucky. The company, which employs more than 1,100 people in the United States, said the expansion would create 500 more jobs.

August 6, 2012
FDA approves generic versions of asthma, allergy drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved several generic versions of a drug used to treat asthma and allergies, the agency said Friday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved several generic versions of a drug used to treat asthma and allergies, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of montelukast sodium, a drug indicated for controlling asthma symptoms and relieving indoor and outdoor allergies.

The drug is a generic version of Merck's Singulair, which had sales of $4.6 billion in 2011, according to IMS Health.

August 6, 2012
Sandoz launches generic psoriasis treatment

Sandoz has launched a generic version of a topical medication used to treat psoriasis, the company said.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Sandoz has launched a generic version of a topical medication used to treat psoriasis, the company said.

Sandoz, the generics arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the launch of calcipotriene cream in the 0.005% strength, calling it the first generic version of Leo Pharma's Dovonex.

Dovonex had sales of about $118.8 million during the 12-month period ended in May, according to IMS Health.

August 3, 2012
This is the coming of the 'age of generics'

Astrologers would say this is the Age of Pisces, while the Chinese zodiac calls it the Year of the Dragon. For health care, it might be a good time to start calling it the "Great Generic Epoch."

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Astrologers would say this is the Age of Pisces, while the Chinese zodiac calls it the Year of the Dragon. For health care, it might be a good time to start calling it the "Great Generic Epoch."

The trend seen in the Generic Drug Savings study, in which generic drugs count for an overwhelming majority of prescriptions written but only about one-quarter of drug spending, has been happening for some time now. But it's also accelerating, and that means a lot for drug makers and policy-makers alike.

August 2, 2012
Generics saved $1 trillion over last 10 years, study finds

Use of generic drugs has saved consumers and the healthcare system $1 trillion over the past decade, according to a new study released Thursday by a generic drug industry trade organization.

WASHINGTON — Use of generic drugs has saved consumers and the healthcare system $1 trillion over the past decade, according to a new study released Thursday by a generic drug industry trade organization.

The Generic Pharmaceutical Association said that between 2002 and 2011, generics saved the country $1 billion every other day, totaling $193 billion in 2011.

August 2, 2012
Teva names two new executives

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has named Carlo De Notaristefani as president and CEO of global operations and Aharon "Arik" Yaari as EVP community and institutional affairs, the Israeli drug maker said Thursday.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has named Carlo De Notaristefani as president and CEO of global operations and Aharon "Arik" Yaari as EVP community and institutional affairs, the Israeli drug maker said Thursday.

The company said De Notaristefani and Yaari would report directly to Teva president and CEO Jeremy Levin.

July 30, 2012
Watson seeks approval for acne, bronchospasm drugs

Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals is challenging the patent protection on a drug for acne and a drug for bronchospasm, the company said Monday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals is challenging the patent protection on a drug for acne and a drug for bronchospasm, the company said Monday.