Pharma Industry Archive

AstraZeneca staff in the U.S. dodged a bullet this morning as the company announced 1,400 layoffs — but none of them in America. The job losses will come instead in the U.K., Spain, Belgium and Sweden. AZ’s explanation of the move was a masterpiece in cynical management-speak and news-burying. Its press statement starts off with this innocuous headline: AstraZeneca to Realign Supply...

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Pfizer continues to meet resistance to its attempt to transform Viagra from a legitimate drug for a real medical condition into a party drug that promises “a more satisfying sexual experience.” Today Pfizer announced that it has withdrawn its application to sell Viagra as an OTC medicine in Europe. The company had argued that by selling Viagra without a prescription it would be more...

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Roche faces $13 million lawsuit — Three patients who developed inflammatory bowel disease after taking the acne drug Accutane have been awarded $12,895,500. Hoffman-La Roche, the U.S. unit of Roche, will foot the bill. [Source: Pharmalot] Teva takes aim at AstraZeneca — Israel’s big generics maker has announced FDA approval for its version of AZ’s Pulmicort Respules, an...

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The clock is ticking for Elan Pharmaceuticals. Despite predicting it will record $1 billion in revenue in 2008, the company could run out of money in two years. The company is considering closing two U.S. facilities because its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri is growing more slowly and doctors are worrying over whether it causes brain infections. Here’s the key nugget from Reuters: In the...

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Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly can expect their atypical anti-psychotics to take a sales hit in light of some FDA officials’ desire to see their use curbed in children. An FDA panel yesterday rejected the FDA’s proposed routine monitoring of the safety of anti-psychotics in children and instead discussed stronger language on their labels and active discouragement of doctors...

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Cephalon hikes Provigil prices  — The drug maker is playing a cunning game. Provigil loses patent protection in 2012, but a new formulation coming out next year, Nuvigil, will remain protected for years. As Provigil’s price skyrockets—it is already 74% higher than it was four years ago—Nuvigil will be released at a lower price point. Provigil users will switch over, and by the...

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Sanofi-Aventis managers are driving their sales reps crazy with their refusal to either name a day on which layoffs will be announced or announce layoffs are not happening. With concrete information absent, rumors are taking their place. This person thinks the layoff count was determined five months ago. But this one thinks Thanksgiving is the time: It was 11/26, but voicemail this am stated...

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The golden years for biotech startups may be nearing an end, according to an analysis by Jeffries & Co. and San Diego’s Xconomy.com. Small biotechs that are publicly traded but not yet profitable are drawing down their cash — and in some cases running out. Amylin, Somaxon, Arena, and Neurocrine are among the bigger names mentioned. This will make them much cheaper for large...

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A corporate strategy question for you about Cephalon: Your industry is unpopular because of its rising prices. Your company’s marketing is under the control of the U.S. Department of Justice due to illegal off-label sales. One of your best-known brands is already facing generic competition, and one of your best-selling brands is about to get the same, which in turn threatens a new brand...

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Johnson & Johnson campaign derailed by angry, Twittering moms — A video spot for Motrin described carrying a baby in a sling as a painful process, suggesting the OTC painkiller could ease the aches; the mommy lobby took offense at the flippant depiction of motherhood. Scores of Twitter messages like the following appeared on the company’s page: “I can’t even count...

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