GLG News(sm): Healthcare

Johnson & Johnson to Tap into huge Alzheimer's Market

Gregg Friedman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:33:02 EST

J&J hopes to take into the huge marketplace for Alzheimer's treatments.

Pharma Business set for major government intervention

Piyush Gupta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:18:12 EST

Governments all over the globe are looking to cut healthcare costs. EU is not exception with Consumers paying some of the highest prices for medicines. If one reads the recent report by EU competition commission its clear that big pharma are using every tactic in the book to delay entry of Generics in their protected markets. The Anti trust ruling with heavy penalties are not far from the Big Pharma

New Clinical Diagnostic Products at AACC

Ken Powell — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:57:07 EST

Over 140 new clinical diagnostic products will be featured at the upcoming American Association for Clinical Chemistry meeting later this month. The new products include high throughput analytical systems, software connectivity solutions and point of care diagnostic products for de-centralized testing market segments. these new products offer the potential for significant growth.

Life Science Companies Achieve Spectacular Growth

Ken Powell — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:56:44 EST

After the first 6 months in 2009, life science, life science, clinical and specialty diagnostics companies have posted stellar results offering the opportunity for significant future growth.

18 months too late for this outbreak, but may be the way toward the future.

Peter Bornstein — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:50:57 EST

The referenced article states that the joint venture would begin producing swine flu vaccine in two years, possibly based on viral-like particle (VLP) technology. While this is too late to have significant impact in the current pandemic, it points to possible future technologies for vaccine development.

Sun Pharma Makes Inroads into US Oncology Market

Piyush Gupta — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:04:24 EST

Astra Zenaca's Casodex is a 315 Million $ molecule. What this approval means for Sun is - they will get 6 months exclusivity to market the Generic version before competition enters. Again Sun will have 1st mover advantage here and 60 - 75 million $ bottom line addition is very much possible with a well planned marketing push.

Its Raining JV's in Indian Biotech Sector - Novavax - Cadila done !!!

Piyush Gupta — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:01:29 EST

Continuing the current trend of JV's in line with Pfizer, GSK, Mylan etc... Novavax has also found its Indian bride. The JV is done with the best of intention to produce Swine Flu vaccine. I thing shortly every Indian Pharma company will have JV in Biotech sector.

European Commision Re-Approves Neupro For Parkinson's Disease and RLS

Lawrence Scrima — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:16:52 EST

UCB's Neupro(R) (rotigotine) transdermal patch is back on the market in Europe for both Parkinson's Disease and RLS, which will benefit many patients with either of these disorders. Hopefully, the FDA will consider returning Neupro to the market in the United States for Parkinson's Disease and eventually for RLS. The advantage of a transdermal patch is the sustained release of lower doses of medicine, thereby decreasing the potential and intensity of side effects, especially habituation and augmentation, that are problems with pill delivery of dopamine precursor, l-dopa and dopamine agonists (though less than with the dopmaine precursor).

Caraco's FDA Tangle

Piyush Gupta — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:50:58 EST

Caraco is stuck in FDA tangle and all people involved with pharma will know its not easy to get out. Its extremely time consuming and expensive process to set things right with the FDA now. In medium term Caraco will have to take some tough decisions to come out of this mess. And once its out, confidence building will have to start all over again.

Glenmark the Hidden Jewel of Indian Pharma !!!

Piyush Gupta — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:47:13 EST

A few days back I had reported that Glenmark by its positive number growth in these tough times has proved it self. Glenmark is relatively less well known company compared to to compatriots in the international investment scene, for this reason I had tagged it "Hidden Jewel of Indian Pharma. Sloane Robinson LLP has just reaffirmed my analysis by increasing their stake in Glenmark.

Victoza approval important milestone

Stephen Brunton — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:02:06 EST

Liraglutide offers another attractive alternative in this important therapeutic area.

New and Generic Biotechnology Drug Growth.

Anne Jarrett — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:33:55 EST

1. There will be a plethora of biotechnology available drugs in the future. 2. There is a debate in the U.S. about generic biopharmaceuticals that continues as healthcare reform is examined. 3. Manufacturers will partner with those in India and elsewhere to address this global issue.

Evolving centrality of biotech for pharma

George Sack — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:33:57 EST

1) Basic developments at small biotechs address both niche products and broad biologic pathways. 2) Late stage development will require pharma expertise, clinical evaluation, marketing and distribution skills. 3) Orphan products are an important niche through which many biologicals can be commercialized. Although not "blockbusters" such products can support further basic research and strengthen biotech development.

Takeda feels the cardiovascular pinch

Andrew Jamieson — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:55:56 EST

After years of riding the crest of the PROACTIVE wave, Takeda now has to take a number and wait to see if Alogliptin can join the DPP-IV bandwagon. Novartis have struggled and taken their foot of the gas in the USA with Vildagliptin, so a CVS clean DPP-IV competitor for Merck's Sitagliptin would be a welcome addition. Whilst other regions will do their own thing, these ripples will still be felt in the UK, Europe and beyond. From the UK perspective, these drugs are still relatively small players, but if genuine CVS benefits, rather than just helpful neutrality, can be shown, then they have a future.

Biotech the big driver?

Kenneth Cleaver — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:54:37 EST

Generic biologicals Patent expiration Kenneth Cleaver, Ph.D.

Biotech will Provide the Next Big Breakthroughs

Gregg Friedman — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:54:19 EST

The Biotech industry will provide the next big breakthrough drugs for big Pharma.

A drop in the price of OTC allergy eye drops?

Steve Rubinstein — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:54:00 EST

By adding a third OTC antihistamine eye drop to the mix the price competition should make the cost to the consumer decrease.

Biotechnology can be the next big driver for the pharma sector

Piyush Gupta — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:51:20 EST

World demand more effective products, more precise actions and less side effects. Bio tech was the answer when consumers demanded the above. Biotech which brings as the latest and most cutting edge products is ready to take its right full place in the healthcare sector. So far its been a second fiddle to Synthetic chemicals - tablets / capsules / syrups etc.... Moving forward time is not far where Biotech derived products will be the mainstay of treatment while old therapies (Synthetic chemicals) would be used only as supportive / adjuvant therapy.

Pharma industry is worth Rs 78,000 crore (USD 15 Billion ): 15 - 150 Billion $$$ coming up !!!

Piyush Gupta — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:51:01 EST

The Subject economic survey gives an insight into the Indian pharma journey so far!!! The Journey from 1 Billion industry to 15 Billion in is note worthy!!! The thing to watch out for is as the world demands healthcare cost rationalization, what pie of this demand lands on Indian pharma's door step.

Good and Bad From Astellas Joint Venture With Maxygen

Kuldeepak Sharma — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:45:17 EST

I read this news with great interest. This joint venture called (MPC) will advance Maxy 4 development program for rheumatoid arthritis and transplant rejection. Maxygen & Astellas are committing $ 10 million each for this joint venture. Since I have worked with Astellas (Yamanouchi) and based on my experience, I think this joint venture (JV) is good for shareholders of Maxygen and Astellas but bad for Maxygen employees. I think Maxygen will shift programs and assets to other companies and it's R&D operations and personnel will go to this new JV with Astellas. This will leads to layoff form financial, administrative, corporate and support departments. This press release did not said when and how many pink slips will be handed out. .I think This strategy is already working based on Maxygen stock closed on July 1 at $7.17 up $0.45 (6.7%).