Content about pharmaceutical

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 — One of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies has acquired the maker and distributor of Emergen-C products.

Pfizer on Monday announced its acquisition of Alacer, a privately held company best known for its vitamin C supplement products. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but Pfizer did note that the deal would complement its Consumer Healthcare division.

One of the main plotlines of the big story called the drug industry over the past several years has been the patent cliff, the steady loss of patent protection on blockbuster primary care drugs and subsequent generic competition that has forced many drug companies to find new revenue streams. Much of this has taken place in the form of a gradual shift to specialty drugs for such conditions as cancers and autoimmune disorders, but recent developments have shown that primary care drugs may still have some steam left in them.


PITTSBURGH — Mylan is changing the name of its branded specialty pharmaceutical business, the company said Wednesday.

The drug maker announced that it would change the name of Dey Pharma to Mylan Specialty. Dey makes treatments for respiratory diseases, psychiatric disorders and severe allergic reactions, including the EpiPen (epinephrine).

TORONTO — In an effort to strengthen its focus on its corporate-owned Rexall and Rexall/Pharma Plus store network, Katz Group Canada has signed a definitive agreement to sell its banner pharmacy business, Drug Trading, and its franchise pharmacy business, Medicine Shoppe Canada, to McKesson for about CAD $920 million in cash.

The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of Canadian regulatory clearances, is expected to close in the first half of 2012.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday evening named 25-year veteran Robyn Peters group VP managed market sales, where she will lead all sales and account management activities in the company’s employer, health systems, health plans, government and small and individual payer segments, along with client retention, expansion programs and sales operations for Walgreens. Peters will report to Jeff Berkowitz, Walgreens SVP pharmaceutical development and market access.

ATLANTA — Meda Consumer Healthcare last week featured three revitalized Feosol SKUs, which are set to launch at retail in May, at the ECRM Vitamin, Diet & Sports Nutrition EPPS conference.

The lineup lends itself to a good-better-best merchandising strategy in what has been a commoditized category, and the marketing plan in place to support the launch will mean a significant uptick in promotion of iron supplementation.

SUPPLIER NEWS — The Food and Drug Administration is streamlining the enrollment process for risk evaluation and mitigation strategies for a class of painkillers, the agency said. The FDA announced the approval of a single REMS for transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl drugs. The new system, which takes effect in March, will allow prescribers and pharmacies to enroll into one system instead of individual systems for each product.

NEW YORK — La Roche-Posay is launching in March its new Rosaliac AR Intense Localized Redness Intensive Care, which reduces visible redness and irritation, and is suitable for rosacea-prone skin.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Gartner on Monday released the findings from its third annual "Healthcare Supply Chain Top 25," ranking Cardinal Health No. 1. The top 25 ranking for 2011 identifies organizations using their supply chains to improve the patient care experience.
 
"Value chain leadership in a range of foundational and collaborative capabilities has allowed these organizations to make great strides in enabling high-quality patient care at optimal economic cost," stated Barry Blake, research analyst at Gartner.
 

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — ValueCentric on Wednesday announced it has reached an agreement with Walgreens that will allow ValueCentric to deliver channel- and store-level data services that provide pharmaceutical market insights based on retail data.

CHICAGO — Walgreens now has certified more than 500 of its pharmacies as HIV Centers of Excellence in communities highly impacted by HIV, as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the pharmacy operator announced Thursday at the U.S. Conference on AIDS.