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Celesio Steals A March On Alliance Boots With Panpharma Acquisition (Americas Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT

European pharmaceutical wholesale giant Celesio announced on June 29 2009 it had acquired a majority (54%) stake in leading Brazilian drug distributor Panpharma. BMI welcomes the move, noting that an expansion beyond the firm's traditional European borders into a high growth emerging market should provide the company with strong growth potential, while also seemingly stealing a march on rival Alliance Boots. Nevertheless, subsequent internal concerns over the deal mean that its conclusion has yet to be

First Local Measles Vaccine Introduced (Asia Pacific Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT

Vietnam has introduced its first domestically-produced measles vaccine. This means the South East Asian country's 10-vaccine National Expanded Immunisation Programme (NEIP) is now self-sufficient. BMI believes that other developing countries should follow Vietnam's example, rather than relying on multinational drugmakers or non-government organisations, both of which have agendas that go beyond improving

Roche Leaves The ABPI And PhRMA (Western Europe Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT

Swiss drugmaker Roche has announced its decision not to renew its membership of the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and is also understood to be leaving PhRMA, ABPI's equivalent body in the US. The company is incorporating its biotech subsidiary, Genentech, with its wider business and is to become a member of the BIO, a US biotechnology

CHMP Plenary Meeting Results - June 2009 (Emerging Europe Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT

The European Medicine Association (EMEA)'s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) June plenary meeting has resulted in the approval of six new medicinal products, bringing the total number of new products approved in the first five monthly meetings of 2009 to 23. Here BMI examines the details of the positive opinions for new drugs, while providing an overview of approvals for new generic medicines, extension indications and other key

Novavax In A Government Deal To Produce Flu Vaccine (Western Europe Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT

With the aim of ensuring the steady future availability of a supply of vaccines against seasonal and pandemic flu, the Spanish government has signed a deal with US-based Novavax to license its vaccine production technology and construct the country's first vaccine manufacturing plant.

Successful Health Awareness Results In Heart Disease Falling (Americas Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT

Deaths resulting from heart disease in Canada have fallen by just under a third between 1994 and 2004. Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) also revealed that the survival rate from heart attacks contributed significantly to the reduction, with fatalities from strokes and heart failure down by 23% and 28% respectively. BMI believes the country is an example of successful health awareness campaigns, with patients actively seeking preventative measures and diagnoses sooner.

Debts Threaten Pharmaceutical Supply Chain (Emerging Europe Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT

Over 20 pharmaceutical distributors in Romania have suspended supplies to almost half of the country's hospitals and pharmacies, as a result of the accumulation of debts of over RON1bn (US$335mn) and the consequent failure to meet deadlines for payments. BMI believes that while severe shortages in medicines are unlikely to occur, arrears provide a significant downside risk to our growth forecasts.

Mylan and Biocon Move Into Biosimilars (Asia Pacific Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT

The highly promising biosimilar sector has two new players. US-based Mylan has entered into a partnership with Indian firm Biocon to develop copies of medicines produced using biotechnology. Because both parties have complementary attributes, BMI believes the project will be a success. However, we note that the movement into biosimilars by Mylan and Biocon is well behind other firms, such as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Sandoz and Merck & Co.

Aurobindo To Sue Treasury Over Lost Tenders (Middle East & Africa Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT

Indian drugmaker Aurobindo's latest foray into South Africa has lead to an unexpected change in tone by the country's government. The state procurement authorities have preferentially rejected Aurobindo's tendered price for antiretrovirals (ARVs), despite being around 40% cheaper than those offered by domestic pharmaceutical firms. Aurobindo is now suing the South African Treasury, which in our view, highlights the barriers to entry for Indian drugmakers into the country.

Drugmakers Concerned About Supply Chain Regulations (Americas Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT

A study carried out by global logistics firm UPS has revealed that regulatory issues top the list of supply chain concerns expressed by pharmaceutical companies. Among large pharmaceutical companies with sales topping US$1bn, 56% stated that an increased regulatory burden was their top concern, while approximately 30% of smaller drugmakers also attributed supply chain concerns to regulatory

Protective Procurement Procedures Limit Market Opportunities (Americas Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT

Protocol for the purchase of pharmaceuticals in Guyana has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that the Ministry of Health waived the tendering process defined by the Procurement Act. Between December 2008 and May 2009 three contracts with a value of GYD850mn (US$4.2mn) were awarded to indigenous firm the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Company, through a restricted tender process. BMI believes that the opaque procurement system is likely to deter multinationals from investing in Guyana and that protectionism likely played a key role in the

Eisai Open European Knowledge Centre (Asia Pacific Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT

Despite the local pricing regulator recently turning down the expanded use of its key drug, Japanese pharmaceutical company

Sanofi Considers Further Generic Acquisitions (Western Europe Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT

In another wave of acquisition activity in the pharmaceutical industry, Sanofi-Aventis has announced that it will be considering further purchases of smaller generic drugmakers. Unlike the general trend among patented drugmakers to seek strategic partnerships or licensing agreements with generic pharmaceutical firms, Sanofi's intention to buy will instead give it more

Partnership Formed To Accelerate Cancer Research (Americas Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT

The United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Chile's Ministry of Health have formed a partnership that aims to accelerate progress against cancer in the US and Latin America. The programme will focus on the development of joint research projects and the training of researchers, with an emphasis on basic and clinical cancer research. Work will also be carried out to enhance existing cancer registries and the execution of early phase clinical studies with cultural sensitivity.

Global Health Funding Growing (Americas Pharma & Healthcare Insight)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT

A study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has revealed that annual global health aid spending by private donors increased from US$5.6bn in 1990 to US$21.8bn in 2007. The report indicates that in general, poor countries receive more funds than those countries with access to more resources; however, nearly half of the 30 nations with the highest disease burdens are not receiving as much aid as those with lower disease burdens.