Pharma Roundup: Novartis Flu Contract, Roche Leads Cancer, and More

U.S. government awards $486 million flu contract to Novartis — The deal funds a Novartis plant to be built in Holly Springs, North Carolina; the plant will employee 300 people and will be capable of producing 150 million doses of flu vaccine within six months in the event of a national pandemic. [Source: PharmaTimes]

Roche to dominate cancer sales by 2012, especially with Genentech — URCH Publishing has released a market report which pegs Roche as the future market leader in cancer drugs, followed by Genentech. If Genentech is second to Roche, and the Roche buyout of Genentech goes through, Roche will become a true cancer powerhouse. The global oncology drugs market in 2012 is estimated at $103.9 billion. [Source: FiercePharma]

Cracks in the glittering facade of generics — Generics have been hailed as the heirs to drug fortunes, and some companies (ie, Teva) have met with enormous success in the field. But there are signs that the industry has problems, among them: manufacturing problems that discredit generics on the whole, increased patent protection, and consolidation. [Source: In Vivo]

Zyprexa update — The second circuit court has agreed to review the class certification on the pricey lawsuit levied against Lilly’s Zyprexa. [Source: Drug and Device Law]