Content about Pharmaceutical sciences

NEW YORK — One of the world's largest drug makers has entered a definitive agreement to purchase a Copenhagen-based consumer healthcare business.

Pfizer said Monday that it agreed to acquire from Altor 2003 Fund GP Limited Ferrosan’s consumer healthcare business, which includes a portfolio of such dietary supplements and lifestyle products as Multi-Tabs and Bifiform. Ferrosan caters to such markets as Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Turkey and many countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

WASHINGTON — A bill that would make the biggest changes to patent laws in more than half a century has drawn mixed responses from the drug industry.

The bill, S. 23, The Patent Reform Act of 2011, sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., would make the first significant changes to patent laws in 60 years.

WASHINGTON — A new report developed by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America revealed that nearly 300 heart disease and stroke medicines are in development.

PhRMA said that while 299 medicines are in development by the nation's biopharmaceutical companies, there is a growing need for such drugs; African-Americans have a 1.5 times greater rate of heart disease death than other Americans and a 1.8 times greater rate of fatal stroke.

STOUGHTON, Wis. — The Community Pharmacy Foundation has appointed a new member to its board.

Randall Myers, a Carey, Ohio-based pharmacist who owns Harry's Pharmacy, joined CPF, which provides support funding for projects associated with community pharmacies in which pharmacists desire to advance their scope of services to assist patients with their disease state management and medication therapy management needs.

WILMINGTON, Del. — Nearly half a million people participated in AstraZeneca's prescription savings programs.

The drug maker reported that it provided $947 million in savings last year to the more than 545,000 patients in the United States who participated. Participation in the AZ&Me prescription savings programs has increased steadily over the past three years, up 7% over 2009 and 19% over 2008, AstraZeneca said.

NEW YORK — A former Albertsons executive has been named the newest VP pharmacy at ECRM.

Italo Pennella, a licensed pharmacist, will utilize his insight on the pharmaceutical supply chain as ECRM's newest executive. At Albertsons, Pennella's career spanned more than 10 years, which included oversight of all brand manufacturer relationships. Prior to joining ECRM, Pennella most recently served as associated director of trade for Otsuka and Schering-Plough/Organon.

BASEL, Switzerland — Swiss drug maker Novartis posted sales of $14.2 billion for fourth quarter 2010 and $50.6 billion for the year as a whole, according to an earnings report released Thursday.

That compared with sales of $12.9 billion and $44.3 billion during fourth quarter 2009 and 2009 as a whole, respectively. Profits for the year were nearly $10 billion, an 18% increase from $8.4 billion in 2009, though profits for the quarter decreased by 2%, from fourth quarter 2009’s $2.32 billion to $2.27 billion in fourth quarter 2010.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Maneuvering to set forth a firm policy position in advance of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores again urged Congress Tuesday to “look to pharmacy as a solution in improving patient health and curbing healthcare costs.”

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for gastroesphageal reflux disease made by a subsidiary of Mylan, the generic drug maker said Monday.

The FDA approved Matrix Labs’ pantoprazole sodium delayed-release tablets in the 20-mg and 40-mg strengths.

The drug is a version of Protonix DR, made by Wyeth, now part of Pfizer. Various versions of the drug had sales of around $1.7 billion during the 12-month period ended in September, according to IMS Health. The FDA also approved a version made by Dr. Reddy’s Labs on Friday.

BOSTON — Finalizing an acquisition of biotech company Genzyme by French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis “will take some time,” media reports quoted Genzyme’s chief executive as saying.

The Boston Globe quoted Genzyme CEO Henri Termeer as saying it would be a long process to understand the company’s full value, in particular because of an investigational multiple sclerosis drug, Campath (alemtuzumab), which could achieve blockbuster sales and thus raise the company’s value and acquisition price if it wins approval.

HAYWARD, Calif. — In response to articles that appeared in several media outlets about its generic drug pipeline, drug maker Impax Labs is looking to set the record straight.

The company said several financial websites had reported that Impax had found a way to make a generic version of Pfizer’s cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium).