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Wal-Mart in talks with several companies to expand prescription drug discount program for employees

Wal-Mart on Friday announced that it is in negotiations to expand to several other companies a generic drug purchasing pilot program it currently runs with Caterpillar, the Chicago Tribune reports.

30 Mar 2009

FDA approves Afinitor oral tablets (everolimus) for advanced form of kidney cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Afinitor oral tablets (everolimus) for the treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer whose disease has progressed after treatment with other cancer therapies.

30 Mar 2009

FDA approves IXIARO for Japanese encephalitis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved IXIARO, a vaccine to prevent Japanese encephalitis (JE) which is caused by a mosquito-transmitted virus found mainly in Asia. IXIARO will be the only vaccine for JE available in the United States.

30 Mar 2009

Senate measure would allow generic versions of biotechnology drugs after five years

Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Thursday introduced legislation (S 726) that would allow FDA to approve generic versions of biotechnology drugs after a five-year period of brand-name patent exclusivity, the New York Times reports.

30 Mar 2009

Takeda expands into Canada

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. today announced the establishment of Takeda Canada Inc., expanding the company's North American presence into the world's eighth largest pharmaceutical market.

29 Mar 2009

Salk Institute forms strategic alliance agreement with sanofi-aventis

The Salk Institute has announced that it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with sanofi-aventis, establishing a joint program that supports cutting-edge research and promotes an exchange of discoveries focused on scientific advances and therapeutic applications.

29 Mar 2009

Mylan confirms four first-to-file challenges

Mylan Inc. has announced that it and/or a subsidiary have been sued in connection with four separate "first-to-file" Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA) filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

29 Mar 2009

Sagent Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval of Azithromycin for injection

Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of azithromycin for injection, a semi-synthetic, macrolide antibiotic that is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. Sagent will offer azithromycin in a 500 mg vial for intravenous use.

26 Mar 2009

New York State to offer low-income, disabled residents prescription drug discount cards

New York state officials on Monday announced a statewide prescription drug discount card program for residents with disabilities, people who are too young to qualify for Medicare and those whose incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

25 Mar 2009

Perrigo receives FDA approval for Sulfacetamide Sodium Topical Suspension USP, 10% (Lotion)

Perrigo Company has announced that it has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market Sulfacetamide Sodium Topical Suspension, 10% (Lotion).

24 Mar 2009

FDA approves new indication for Wyeth's Tygacil (tigecycline)

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tygacil (tigecycline), for the treatment of adult patients with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) caused by susceptible strains of indicated pathogens.

24 Mar 2009

FABLYN approved in Europe as osteoporosis treatment

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has announced that its partner, Pfizer, Inc. has received approval from the European Commission (EC) for FABLYN (lasofoxifene) Tablets, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women at increased risk of fracture.

24 Mar 2009

Drop in Walgreen profits reflects change in consumer prescription needs

Rising unemployment and other economic problems have led some consumers to delay filling prescriptions or cut pills in half, according to Walgreen executives, the Wall Street Journal reports.

24 Mar 2009

Clotrimazole drug used to treat skin conditions is a marine pollutant

Clotrimazole is a common ingredient in over-the-counter skin creams. Recent results from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, now show that it is associated with major environmental risks. "The pharmaceuticals and chemicals in everyday use form a mixture in the ocean that has a direct impact on the growth and reproduction of organisms", says scientist Tobias Porsbring.

24 Mar 2009

New MEDQUARG guidelines will help detect and study counterfeit medicines

New guidelines proposed by a group of international experts will help better study the prevalence and geography of counterfeit and other poor quality medicines that threaten public health across the world.

23 Mar 2009

Merck Serono launches strategic venture capital fund

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today the formation of 'Merck Serono Ventures', a strategic, corporate venture capital fund to invest in emerging biotechnology companies.

23 Mar 2009

Merck updates on Schering-Plough merger

Merck & Co., Inc. has provided an update on the status of credit facilities that will be used to finance its recently announced agreement to merge with Schering-Plough Corporation.

23 Mar 2009

Federal Court rules FDA must reconsider Plan B decision

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York rejected the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to limit over-the-counter access to the emergency contraceptive Plan B to women over 18, ruling that it was based on politics and ideology, rather than science.

23 Mar 2009

FDA approves Symbyax for treatment-resistant depression

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new indication for Symbyax (olanzapine and fluoxetine HCl capsules), Eli Lilly and Company has announced.

23 Mar 2009

New tuberculosis vaccine effective in animal testing

A new tuberculosis vaccine candidate developed by researchers at Canada's McMaster University has proven effective in animal testing, the researchers announced Thursday, the Hamilton Spectator reports.

23 Mar 2009