Content about biopharmaceutical

WASHINGTON — Nearly 1,000 biotech drugs and vaccines for more than 100 diseases are currently under development, according to a new report.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has appointed Thomas Moriarty as EVP and general counsel of CVS Caremark.

Moriarty most recently served as general counsel at the Celgene, a biopharmaceutical company, where he was responsible for global legal strategy and served on the company's management committee. Prior to that, Moriarty was general counsel and corporate secretary at Medco Health Solutions.

In July, the country’s largest trade group representing the drug industry released a report showing nearly 200 drugs under clinical development or Food and Drug Administration review for treating mental disorders.


The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America released a report listing 187 drugs, including 52 for depression, 37 for schizophrenia and 26 for anxiety disorders.


HOLZKIRCHEN, Germany — The Food and Drug Administration should apply consistent regulatory standards across all biologics, Sandoz plans to state Friday in testimony at an FDA public hearing on draft guidances related to the development of biosimilars.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Tuesday announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase World Courier Group, a privately held global specialty transportation and logistics provider for the biopharmaceutical industry, for $520 million in cash.

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.

NEW YORK — Pfizer has entered a definitive agreement to acquire a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development of pain treatments.

Pfizer, which currently owns a near 11% stake in Icagen, will acquire the company's remaining 8.3 million shares. The aggregate transaction value, which includes the value of the shares currently owned by Pfizer, is about $56 million.

The two companies entered a discovery, development and commercialization collaboration in 2007, which sought to create potential treatments for pain and related disorders.

DANBURY, Conn. — A biopharmaceutical company that specializes in diabetes treatments has appointed a new board chairman.

Biodel said that effective immediately, Brian Pereira, who has served on the drug maker's board since 2007, will become chairman. Current chairman Charles Sanders, who served as chairman since March 2010 after joining the board in August 2006, will continue to serve as a board member, Biodel said.

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.

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. — Abbott has made a pact with a biopharmaceutical company to develop new cancer treatments by making small-molecule inhibitors.

Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will provide EpiTherapeutics with an up-front payment and will receive funding of research activities conducted at EpiTherapeutics. The biopharmaceutical company also is eligible, under certain conditions, to receive milestone payments as well as potential royalties on future revenues.

NEW YORK — Pfizer president and CEO Jeffrey Kindler has retired from the company, the drug maker said Sunday. Ian Read, who currently heads Pfizer’s global biopharmaceutical operations and has worked for the company since 1978, will succeed him.

Kindler cited personal reasons for retiring, saying his around-the-clock work schedule had been “extremely demanding” on him personally, and that he would take time to spend with his family before making his next moves.

TAMPA, Fla. Oragenics, a biopharmaceutical company, has announced that its oral care probiotics line, EvoraPlus, will be available at select Fred Meyer stores in September.

"We are pleased that Fred Meyer stores are among the growing number of retailers that have chosen to carry EvoraPlus oral care probiotics," stated Gerry David, EVP sales and marketing for Oragenics. "We are looking forward to the expanded distribution of our oral care probiotics across the northwestern portion of the United States through this relationship."