Pharma News
Pfizer buys 40% stake in Brazilian generics’ manufacturer Teuto
Pfizer, the world's biggest pharma company, is increasing its stake in emerging markets, with its announcement on 20 October 2010 that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a 40% stake in Brazilian generics’ manufacturer Laboratorio Teuto Brasileiro (Teuto) for US$240 million.
China’s booming pharmaceutical market attracts R & D
China, which is approximately the size of the US, but with five times the population, has long been off-limits for global pharma due to its complex regulations, low healthcare expenditure and its seemingly unenforceable intellectual property laws. However all that has apparently changed according to a Reuters analysis, which shows that China is grabbing an increasing share of the global R & D budget, with investigators launching new studies to help understand how to treat the country’s huge population and tap into one of the fastest growing pharma markets on the planet.
Safe supplies consortium hard at work
Perhaps frustrated at the length of time required for action on counterfeit drugs by the EMA or the FDA, and the limited powers of each of these bodies, a group of individuals got together last year to do things their own way. The Interim Director of Rx‑360, a new non-profit international pharmaceutical consortium, was Mr Martin Van Trieste, Vice President of quality for Amgen.
Daiichi Sankyo pursues a global strategy
In Japan, Daiichi Sankyo has won its first worldwide marketing approval. The drug is laninamivir - long-acting neuraminidase inhibitor. The firm will market the drug as Inavir.
Fresh directions for Sinobiomed
Sinobiomed Inc announced the appointment of a new President and Chief Executive Officer on 2 September 2010. Mr George Yu completed his education in Germany and the US. Under his experienced guidance the company hopes to move swiftly on the following strategic initiatives:
FDA generics division officer joins Teva
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has added to its team Mr Gary Buehler, former head of the generics division at the FDA, The Wall Street Journal reported. Mr Buehler joins Teva as vice president of regulatory strategic operations.
Endo acquires US generics’ giant Qualitest
Endo Pharmaceuticals is buying US generics’ giant Qualitest Pharmaceuticals for about Euros 850,000 in cash to expand its portfolio of pain drugs. This is its second acquisition in as many months; last month it acquired Penwest Pharmaceuticals for just over Euros 100 million. Shares in US-based Endo were on the rise following the news.
Bristol-Myers Squibb looking stronger than expected
Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate), which prevents blood clots in patients at risk of heart attack or stroke and is the world's second biggest-selling prescription drug, loses US patent protection in November 2011. Bristol-Myers Squibb markets the drug in the US, while its partner sanofi-aventis sells it in other countries. Bristol-Myers got almost a third of its 2009 revenue from Plavix—Euros 4.6 billion out of a total of Euros 14.1 billion—and is racing to find new drugs to fill the gap.
Mylan granted US restraining order over sales of paroxetine
Generics’ giant Mylan Laboratories was granted a US court order in September 2010 prohibiting Apotex, a Canadian pharma company, from selling paroxetine. The order also prohibits GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) from supplying Paxil CR (paroxetine extended-release tablets) to Apotex. Mylan has an exclusive agreement to sell a copy of GSK’s Paxil CR. If GSK were to authorise additional sales of generic paroxetine this would undercut sales and cause an “irretrievable loss of market share and customers” for generic Paxil CR, a Mylan spokesman said.
Spotlight on Bosnia
In today’s global business environment, companies battle for position all over the world. Today Bosnia’s pharmaceutical industry is making the headlines, with a battle to invest in the leading company, Bosnalijek.
