After years of bold proclamations of independence, another biotech may be in the throes of an inevitable takeover. Faced with manufacturing troubles, FDA investigations, and struggles with shareholders, Genzyme has become …
‘Pharmaceuticals’ Archive
Are personal DNA tests ready for public consumption?
by Anne Law, July 30, 2010, 12:22 pmShould genetic testing kits be available over the counter – alongside pregnancy tests and the like? This topic has come up for debate in 2010 and Congress and the FDA have increased their …
US drugmakers face the fire over lax manufacturing practices
by Anne Law, June 30, 2010, 11:27 amWhile a few years back it seemed that overseas drug manufacturers were largely in the spotlight over FDA plant investigations and recalls, several top US pharmaceutical companies are bearing heavy scrutiny this year and punching …
Will the Myriad Gene Patent Ruling Change the Face of Biotechnology?
by Patrice Sarath, May 17, 2010, 6:30 amOn the face of it it defied common sense. How could genes be patented? Yet it’s estimated that around one-third of our genes have been patented by biotech companies. Once the human genome was sequenced in 2000 by …
Who owns your genes?
by Anne Law, April 12, 2010, 11:39 am
An ongoing legal battle over whether companies can file patents on human genes — yes, really — is heating up, and I can promise you haven’t heard the end of it.
In late March a federal court threw …
Health overhaul brings change to health insurers, care providers, and medical product makers
by Anne Law, March 25, 2010, 1:11 pm
As the dust settles (well, maybe) on the long-fought battle over health care reform, one thing everyone should be able to agree upon is that it will take a good long while for the bill to be …
Is the swine flu pandemic a fluke?
by Anne Law, January 15, 2010, 1:12 pmGlobal governments that were scrambling to order and distribute ample supplies of the H1N1 vaccine a few months ago are now sitting on stockpiles as demand for the flu shot has waned.
Whether concern over the vaccine’s safety or a …
Pfizer dives into generic biologics
by Anne Law, December 11, 2009, 11:21 amNot too big of a surprise that Pfizer wants to stick its nose into the generic biotech (or follow-on biologics) market — it’s a steadily rising trend in the pharmaceutical industry these days.
While the wave of …
Drinking this latte sure makes me crave … shoe inserts???
by Anne Law, November 13, 2009, 3:10 pmConsumer goods manufacturers seem to be taking product advertising to a new level. According a recent Ad Age article, we shouldn’t be surprised if we find ourselves viewing ads for Dr. Scholl’s while enjoying a break …
Lofty Pfizer wipes out Wyeth
by Anne Law, October 19, 2009, 3:04 pmMany large pharmaceutical mergers over the years have resulted in fused identities:
1989: Bristol-Myers + Squibb = Bristol-Myers Squibb
1999: Zeneca + Astra = AstraZeneca
2000: Glaxo Wellcome + SmithKline Beecham = GlaxoSmithKline
2004: Sanofi-Synthelabo …
