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How tobacco industry attempted to influence privatisation plans of state-owned tobacco industry in Moldova

A paper in this week’s issue of The Lancet highlights how two tobacco companies attempted to influence plans to privatise the state-owned tobacco industry in Moldova.

7 Apr 2005

NHS target driven culture is failing patients

The new tick box, target driven culture of the NHS is neglecting the quality of patient care, warns a senior doctor in this week's BMJ.

28 Mar 2005

Wyeth advances diet drug settlement discussions

Wyeth has announced that plaintiffs' attorneys representing a substantial number of claimants who have opted out of the National Diet Drug Settlement have agreed to participate in a proposed process for settling downstream opt-out cases, and that the Company is prepared to move forward with the process.

28 Feb 2005

Merck issues statement on Vioxx lawsuits

The federal Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation today granted motions by several parties, including Merck, to transfer all Vioxx product liability lawsuits pending in federal courts nationwide into one consolidated Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) for coordinated pre-trial proceedings.

16 Feb 2005

Merck may have known the overuse of mercury in their vaccines posed a dangerous health threat to children

A Los Angeles Times article today reports that Merck, a leading manufacturer of prescription drugs, knew the overuse of mercury in their vaccines posed a dangerous health threat to children.

8 Feb 2005

Solutions to royalty stacking issues a top priority in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors

As new technologies are innovated in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, the number of fresh patents and related regulations is also on the rise.

31 Jan 2005

GlaxoSmithKline acquires full marketing and development rights for BEXXAR worldwide

GlaxoSmithKline announced that it has reached an agreement with Corixa Corporation to acquire worldwide rights and responsibilities related to the manufacturing, development and commercialization of the BEXXAR® therapeutic regimen.

14 Dec 2004

Prescription drug cost increases continuing to outpace inflation

A new report released today by AARP found the annual rate of manufacturers' price increases for the 197 brand name prescription drugs most commonly used by older Americans more than tripled the rate of inflation over the 12-month period ending on September 30, 2004.

6 Dec 2004

Current system for determining medical negligence is secretive, unaccountable and unregulated

The current system for determining medical negligence is "secretive, unaccountable and unregulated", according to an opinion piece in this week's BMJ.

3 Dec 2004

CDC admits obesity stats flawed - pharmaceutical and weight loss industry at fault

A Wall Street Journal bombshell report that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has admitted to serious statistical errors in calculating that obesity kills 400,000 Americans each year is only the tip of the iceberg of gross exaggerations and miscalculations, according to The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF).

24 Nov 2004

Chronic pain influenced by social background

Griffith University research has shown that recovery from chronic pain is heavily dependent on the socio-economic status of the patient, rather than the nature of the healthcare they receive.

16 Nov 2004

Drug reaction breakthrough

The ‘data mining’ research maximises the information extracted from existing drug safety data by cross-referencing much of the existing information on adverse drug reactions.

8 Nov 2004

Patent litigation the most commonly used generic defense strategy among pharmaceutical companies

Patent litigation remains the most commonly used generic defense strategy among pharmaceutical companies. 71% of drug companies have used legal battles to defend their patents in the past three years, according to research from pharmaceutical business intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information.

4 Nov 2004

Philip Morris exploited institutional fears of losing research funding

As part of its strategy to avert tobacco stock divestment by the country's top medical schools, Philip Morris exploited institutional fears of losing research funding, according to a new report by UCSF School of Nursing researchers.

25 Oct 2004

The attitude towards MRSA in the United Kingdom is a case of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted

Nicholas Akerman's experience of working in Australia was that people are unable to work with patients without being screened and cleared. Yet, having worked in England in medicine for over 12 years, he has never once been screened. "Surely we should at least be adopting this policy to help combat the problem?" he asks.

21 Oct 2004

New law will help stop litigation abuse against vaccines

U.S. Senator Larry Craig announced that legislation will be signed into law in a few days by President Bush which will help avert future flu vaccine shortages.

21 Oct 2004

Landmark settlement of "Kool Mixx" tobacco lawsuits

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced the settlement of their lawsuits against the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co. over the marketing of Kool cigarettes.

6 Oct 2004

International symposium will focus on curing mesothelioma

A lethal, but long-overlooked cancer will take a major step out of the shadows next week, as The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation convenes the First International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma.

6 Oct 2004

Call for elderly and children to be vaccinated first in response to flu vaccine shortage

Just one week after being reassured by corporate and federal officials that the United States would have a record supply of flu vaccine available, the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging reacted sharply today concerning the nation’s pending flu vaccine shortage.

5 Oct 2004

NMT Medical announces favorable patent decision

NMT Medical today announced a favorable decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Board of Appeals relating to the Company's patent infringement actions against AGA Medical Corp.

8 Sep 2004