Pharmaco - Articles
We're having a fascinating day at the Financial Times Global Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology conference on London.
One of the most interesting commentaries today came from Jean-Luc Bélingard, CEO of Ipsen. Jean-Luc stated that in his view, for the pharmaceutical segment, ‘Demand is infinite’ – with no therapeutic cure for the mahority of diseases. Take diabetes for example – we can treat it, to a large extent, but we can’t cure it. This makes the pharma and interesting market, and this, with all of the other changes and challenges in the segment, does pose challenges for the survival and growth of individual pharmaceutical corporates. Paul Hartigan, CEO of PharmiWeb Solutions, asked Jean-Luc if he was confident therefore in the future for the industry. (Mr Bélingard started his career at…
One of the most interesting commentaries today came from Jean-Luc Bélingard, CEO of Ipsen. Jean-Luc stated that in his view, for the pharmaceutical segment, ‘Demand is infinite’ – with no therapeutic cure for the mahority of diseases. Take diabetes for example – we can treat it, to a large extent, but we can’t cure it. This makes the pharma and interesting market, and this, with all of the other changes and challenges in the segment, does pose challenges for the survival and growth of individual pharmaceutical corporates. Paul Hartigan, CEO of PharmiWeb Solutions, asked Jean-Luc if he was confident therefore in the future for the industry. (Mr Bélingard started his career at…
27-Aug-2010
The craving for cheap drugs has never been greater. For those patients and policymakers in developing countries, the existence of parallel imports is less a concern than a blessing. Yet for pharmaceutical companies themselves, there is the concern that an increasing trade in parallel imports would severely damage research-intensive activities and ultimately slow down the development of the very same drugs that are being traded in ‘grey’ markets today.
The craving for cheap drugs has never been greater. For those patients and policymakers in developing countries, the existence of parallel imports is less a concern than a blessing. Yet for pharmaceutical companies themselves, there is the concern that an increasing trade in parallel imports would severely damage research-intensive activities…
The craving for cheap drugs has never been greater. For those patients and policymakers in developing countries, the existence of parallel imports is less a concern than a blessing. Yet for pharmaceutical companies themselves, there is the concern that an increasing trade in parallel imports would severely damage research-intensive activities…
27-Aug-2010
Weekly Swine Flu Update for the Week Ending November 1st.
The past few weeks have been something of a medical paradox. Yes, the number of cases is increasing, but it is doing so somewhat more steadily than first anticipated. The full brunt of the highly anticipated ‘second wave’ is more likely to come towards the end of December and into the heat of the winter season. Conversely, while there hasn’t been a terrible spike in the number of cases, more people are being hospitalized with the virus. Hospitals too are beginning to feel the strain. Speaking on BBC 1’s the Andrew Marr Show, the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Sir. Liam Donaldson said "What we are seeing is that while most people generally get a mild illness, a small proportion of people are getting very serious illnesses”. And while…
The past few weeks have been something of a medical paradox. Yes, the number of cases is increasing, but it is doing so somewhat more steadily than first anticipated. The full brunt of the highly anticipated ‘second wave’ is more likely to come towards the end of December and into the heat of the winter season. Conversely, while there hasn’t been a terrible spike in the number of cases, more people are being hospitalized with the virus. Hospitals too are beginning to feel the strain. Speaking on BBC 1’s the Andrew Marr Show, the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Sir. Liam Donaldson said "What we are seeing is that while most people generally get a mild illness, a small proportion of people are getting very serious illnesses”. And while…
27-Aug-2010
In this edition of StrategicEdge, CBR Pharma Insights discusses some of the recent rulings by the Indian courts and their impact on the pharmaceutical industry's increasing interest in India.
India is one of the emerging markets which is seen to have great potential to many pharmaceutical companies. However, India's complicated legal structure concerning patents can make the market a challenging one, as highlighted by several recent rulings. Novartis is currently involved in the long process of trying to gain Indian patent approval for its cancer drug Glivec. Novartis' application for a patent for the beta crystalline form of Glivec was first denied by the Patent Controller's office in January 2006, and Novartis has continued to pursue the issue through a variety of courts. Most recently, t…
India is one of the emerging markets which is seen to have great potential to many pharmaceutical companies. However, India's complicated legal structure concerning patents can make the market a challenging one, as highlighted by several recent rulings. Novartis is currently involved in the long process of trying to gain Indian patent approval for its cancer drug Glivec. Novartis' application for a patent for the beta crystalline form of Glivec was first denied by the Patent Controller's office in January 2006, and Novartis has continued to pursue the issue through a variety of courts. Most recently, t…
27-Aug-2010
Ever since the H1N1 virus first came onto the world map in April, ‘Where’s the vaccine?’ has been the cardinal question on everybody’s lips. As world governments scrambled to control the outbreak, supranational bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) threw themselves at the task of producing weekly updates for a virus which we originally knew very little about.
Ever since the H1N1 virus first came onto the world map in April, ‘Where’s the vaccine?’ has been the cardinal question on everybody’s lips. As world governments scrambled to control the outbreak, supranational bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) threw themselves at the task of producing weekly updates for a virus which we originally knew very little about. Their efforts rendered the first wave of the virus…
Ever since the H1N1 virus first came onto the world map in April, ‘Where’s the vaccine?’ has been the cardinal question on everybody’s lips. As world governments scrambled to control the outbreak, supranational bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) threw themselves at the task of producing weekly updates for a virus which we originally knew very little about. Their efforts rendered the first wave of the virus…
27-Aug-2010
Weekly Swine Flu Update for the Week Ending October 2nd.
""It is steadily mounting, we are not seeing the sort of explosive increase, doubling week on week, that we've seen in some previous pandemics, but it is the start of the second peak, we are pretty confident of that now”. These were the words of the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Sir. Liam Donaldson, as he predicted the emergence of a second-wave of the virus in the UK. Today, the numbers verify the assumptions: with a 50% increase in the number of new cases in England for the week ending the 25th of September, the country is now bracing itself for a second, more widespread, wave of H1N1. Last week witnessed 14,000 new cases of the virus in England – up from 9,000 in the previous week - with 286 people hospitalized and 36 in critical…
""It is steadily mounting, we are not seeing the sort of explosive increase, doubling week on week, that we've seen in some previous pandemics, but it is the start of the second peak, we are pretty confident of that now”. These were the words of the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Sir. Liam Donaldson, as he predicted the emergence of a second-wave of the virus in the UK. Today, the numbers verify the assumptions: with a 50% increase in the number of new cases in England for the week ending the 25th of September, the country is now bracing itself for a second, more widespread, wave of H1N1. Last week witnessed 14,000 new cases of the virus in England – up from 9,000 in the previous week - with 286 people hospitalized and 36 in critical…
It is frightening because no one knows what's causing it, said a 28-year old law student who went to the St. Mark's Clinic in Greenwich Village last week complaining of swollen glands, thought to be one early symptom of the disease. Every week a new theory comes out about how you're going to spread it. - The New York Times , August 8th 1982.
"It is frightening because no one knows what's causing it, said a 28-year old law student who went to the St. Mark's Clinic in Greenwich Village last week complaining of swollen glands, thought to be one early symptom of the disease. Every week a new theory comes out about how you're going to spread it." - The New York Times , August 8th 1982. Unaccompanied by anything like a true understanding of the virus until years later – or even a proper name for…
"It is frightening because no one knows what's causing it, said a 28-year old law student who went to the St. Mark's Clinic in Greenwich Village last week complaining of swollen glands, thought to be one early symptom of the disease. Every week a new theory comes out about how you're going to spread it." - The New York Times , August 8th 1982. Unaccompanied by anything like a true understanding of the virus until years later – or even a proper name for…
A meta-analysis of the CRYSTAL and OPUS studies involving 845 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) tumours displaying the wild-type KRAS gene, has revealed first-line treatment with Erbitux (cetuximab) and FOLFOX4 or FOLFIRI chemotherapy significantly extends overall survival.
A meta-analysis of the CRYSTAL and OPUS studies involving 845 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) tumours displaying the wild-type KRAS gene, has revealed first-line treatment with Erbitux (cetuximab) and FOLFOX4 or FOLFIRI chemotherapy significantly extends overall survival. Median survival was around four months greater in Erbitux and chemotherapy-treated patients than in those receiving chemotherapy alone.A new meta-analysis presented for the first time at the joint 15th European Cancer…
A meta-analysis of the CRYSTAL and OPUS studies involving 845 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) tumours displaying the wild-type KRAS gene, has revealed first-line treatment with Erbitux (cetuximab) and FOLFOX4 or FOLFIRI chemotherapy significantly extends overall survival. Median survival was around four months greater in Erbitux and chemotherapy-treated patients than in those receiving chemotherapy alone.A new meta-analysis presented for the first time at the joint 15th European Cancer…
Hardly a day goes by without a new report, today AT Kearney, last week Roland Berger and before them IMS and PWC warning of a gloomy future for pharmaceutical companies and saying that they must change their ways.
Hardly a day goes by without a new report, today AT Kearney, last week Roland Berger and before them IMS and PWC warning of a gloomy future for pharmaceutical companies and saying that they must change their ways. Pharma’ has responded by restructuring, re-focussing, divesting, merging, laying off etc., but all of these are, I would argue, tinkering with the existing model. Like re-painting the sides of a horse drawn cart when it is in the middle of a six lane motorway junction with the traffic going past at 70 mph.... and one of the highways in the junction is the conversation…
Hardly a day goes by without a new report, today AT Kearney, last week Roland Berger and before them IMS and PWC warning of a gloomy future for pharmaceutical companies and saying that they must change their ways. Pharma’ has responded by restructuring, re-focussing, divesting, merging, laying off etc., but all of these are, I would argue, tinkering with the existing model. Like re-painting the sides of a horse drawn cart when it is in the middle of a six lane motorway junction with the traffic going past at 70 mph.... and one of the highways in the junction is the conversation…
27-Aug-2010
In the eyes of many graduates, the economic recession has brought a new-found negativity to the job market. Thankfully, the climate is probably less dire than the situation sometimes imagined.
In the eyes of many graduates, the economic recession has brought a new-found negativity to the job market. Indeed, over the past 12 months, articles talking down the prospects of new graduates have become ubiquitous in the media. Where these kinds of stories haven’t dominated the front pages, they have been replaced by the news of failed businesses and banks, rising unemployment figures and an array of reactive monetary policy adjustments that some thought would never come. If you’d listened to the heads of central banks in the years before the crisis - notably Alan Greenspan and then Ben Bernanke at…
In the eyes of many graduates, the economic recession has brought a new-found negativity to the job market. Indeed, over the past 12 months, articles talking down the prospects of new graduates have become ubiquitous in the media. Where these kinds of stories haven’t dominated the front pages, they have been replaced by the news of failed businesses and banks, rising unemployment figures and an array of reactive monetary policy adjustments that some thought would never come. If you’d listened to the heads of central banks in the years before the crisis - notably Alan Greenspan and then Ben Bernanke at…
More than half of schizophrenia patients are expected to relapse within two years if untreated and 4 out of 5 within five years, according to experts. Antipsychotics can reduce the relapse rate so long as patients continue on treatment. However, adherence is notoriously poor. A new antippsychotic – asenapine – shows promise of being effective and better tolerated.
More than half of schizophrenia patients are expected to relapse within two years if untreated and 4 out of 5 within five years, according to experts. Antipsychotics can reduce the relapse rate so long as patients continue on treatment. However, adherence is notoriously poor. A new antippsychotic – asenapine – shows promise of being effective and better tolerated. The prospect of an antipsychotic drug that keeps schizophrenia pat…
More than half of schizophrenia patients are expected to relapse within two years if untreated and 4 out of 5 within five years, according to experts. Antipsychotics can reduce the relapse rate so long as patients continue on treatment. However, adherence is notoriously poor. A new antippsychotic – asenapine – shows promise of being effective and better tolerated. The prospect of an antipsychotic drug that keeps schizophrenia pat…
27-Aug-2010
Weekly Swine Flu Update for the Week Ending September 10th
Again last week, the number of new cases continued to fall. With around 3,000 new cases reported for last week - compared to 5,000 cases for the week before and a zenith of 130,000 at the start of August – the situation has improved by every known measure or metric, both on a national, and indeed a supranational level. The HPA, continues to warn Britons against complacency in the struggle against the virus. The total number of H1N1-related deaths has now risen to 75 and as of September the 9th, there were 132 patients hospitalized with the virus. HPA figures continue to be questioned for their reliability since the transition to the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS) earlier in the month. In delivering his weekly update, the…
Again last week, the number of new cases continued to fall. With around 3,000 new cases reported for last week - compared to 5,000 cases for the week before and a zenith of 130,000 at the start of August – the situation has improved by every known measure or metric, both on a national, and indeed a supranational level. The HPA, continues to warn Britons against complacency in the struggle against the virus. The total number of H1N1-related deaths has now risen to 75 and as of September the 9th, there were 132 patients hospitalized with the virus. HPA figures continue to be questioned for their reliability since the transition to the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS) earlier in the month. In delivering his weekly update, the…
27-Aug-2010
Weekly Swine Flu Update for the Week Ending September 4th.
Week 36 of the Swine Flu outbreak has witnessed a substantial amendment to the government’s fatality predictions, with the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) reporting markedly lowered predictions of H1N1 related deaths. Specifically, the government’s experts now anticipate approximately 19,000 deaths in the worst case scenario – a significant fall from the previous figure of 65,000 fatalities that was given in July. Both figures function under the assumption that 30% of the population would be infected should the virus surge during the autumn and winter months. While the number of new cases continues to fall – with around 4,500 new cases reported for last week, compared to 5,000 cases for the week before and a z…
Week 36 of the Swine Flu outbreak has witnessed a substantial amendment to the government’s fatality predictions, with the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) reporting markedly lowered predictions of H1N1 related deaths. Specifically, the government’s experts now anticipate approximately 19,000 deaths in the worst case scenario – a significant fall from the previous figure of 65,000 fatalities that was given in July. Both figures function under the assumption that 30% of the population would be infected should the virus surge during the autumn and winter months. While the number of new cases continues to fall – with around 4,500 new cases reported for last week, compared to 5,000 cases for the week before and a z…
27-Aug-2010
Max Golby, Freelance Journalist, takes a look at the history of the e-Detailing market, considers what the e-Detail of the future might look like and asks what marketing departments can learn from an academic analysis of the instrument.
The History of e-Detailing: Call it what you will - e-Detailing, e-Marketing or e-Business - now almost a decade on from the days of the dot-com predictions - and a time when the temerity that surrounded the birth of the medium was in full-flow - the e-Detail has proven itself as one of the most cost-effective, growth intensive strategies available to healthcare professionals. For many physicians, the e-Detail quickly asserted itself as a more informative - and cost effective - alternative to the sales representative. Far more than just another email in t…
The History of e-Detailing: Call it what you will - e-Detailing, e-Marketing or e-Business - now almost a decade on from the days of the dot-com predictions - and a time when the temerity that surrounded the birth of the medium was in full-flow - the e-Detail has proven itself as one of the most cost-effective, growth intensive strategies available to healthcare professionals. For many physicians, the e-Detail quickly asserted itself as a more informative - and cost effective - alternative to the sales representative. Far more than just another email in t…
27-Aug-2010
Weekly Swine Flu Update for the Week Ending August 27th.
Despite a continued fall in the number of new cases for last week – with 5,000 new cases reported, compared to a peak of 100,000 at the start of the month - and a consecutive decline in the number of GP consultations, – the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, once again warned Britons against complacency in the fight against the virus - adding that whilst "It is normally a mild illness…for some it continues to be very serious”. An additional 7 deaths were recorded for the week and over 200 people continue to be hospitalized with the illness. HPA figures continue to be questioned for their reliability since the transition to the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS) earlier in the month. Moreover, on the issue of anti-vi…
Despite a continued fall in the number of new cases for last week – with 5,000 new cases reported, compared to a peak of 100,000 at the start of the month - and a consecutive decline in the number of GP consultations, – the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, once again warned Britons against complacency in the fight against the virus - adding that whilst "It is normally a mild illness…for some it continues to be very serious”. An additional 7 deaths were recorded for the week and over 200 people continue to be hospitalized with the illness. HPA figures continue to be questioned for their reliability since the transition to the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS) earlier in the month. Moreover, on the issue of anti-vi…
27-Aug-2010
Weekly Swine Flu Update for the Week Ending August 16th.
In certain ways, the past few weeks of the Swine Flu outbreak have been positive for everyone involved. Numbers of cases have decreased steadily and as a result, GP consultation rates have diminished too. In addition, the majority of patients continue to suffer only mild reactions and there are no signs of any impending mutations - either in terms of the severity of the virus itself, or with regards to anti-viral resistance. News on the development and testing of the new H1N1 vaccine continues to impress and estimates continue to predict the emergence of the first batch of drugs around October – with the hope that at least 50% of government stocks may be delivered by the New Year. Whilst some questions have been raised over the…
In certain ways, the past few weeks of the Swine Flu outbreak have been positive for everyone involved. Numbers of cases have decreased steadily and as a result, GP consultation rates have diminished too. In addition, the majority of patients continue to suffer only mild reactions and there are no signs of any impending mutations - either in terms of the severity of the virus itself, or with regards to anti-viral resistance. News on the development and testing of the new H1N1 vaccine continues to impress and estimates continue to predict the emergence of the first batch of drugs around October – with the hope that at least 50% of government stocks may be delivered by the New Year. Whilst some questions have been raised over the…
27-Aug-2010
As Capitol Hill readies itself for the August Recess, and as President Barack Obama demands that a bill reach his desk in the Oval Office by October, healthcare reform still finds itself in more-or-less the same quagmire as it did in 1993. We take a look at the chances of comprehensive reform this year and tackle the nitty-gritty of one of the most complex and polarising issues of Washington politics today.
Simply put, they're at it again. In 1993, Bill Clinton – then 42nd President of the United States – set about to make healthcare reform one of the foremost priorities of his administration and he appointed his wife and First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton to set about delivering this seemingly impossible objective. Known for her long-standing interest in healthcare reform and her consider…
Simply put, they're at it again. In 1993, Bill Clinton – then 42nd President of the United States – set about to make healthcare reform one of the foremost priorities of his administration and he appointed his wife and First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton to set about delivering this seemingly impossible objective. Known for her long-standing interest in healthcare reform and her consider…
27-Aug-2010
Weekly Swine Flu Update for the Week Ending July 26.
As the world continues to come to terms with the first global flu pandemic since the Hong Kong Flu of 1968, and as the outbreak continues to gain further traction over the autumn and winter months to come, this series of weekly ‘Swine Flu Update’ articles will attempt to provide both informed editorial analysis and key national – and supranational – updates. With the Healthcare Protection Agency (HPA) estimating that there were around 110,000 new cases of Swine Flu in the UK for the week ending July 26th, the virus is doubtless continuing to gain considerable momentum. GP consultation rates continued to grow above those of a typical seasonal flu outbreak and the under 5s and 5-14 year olds continued to be age groups most predominately…
As the world continues to come to terms with the first global flu pandemic since the Hong Kong Flu of 1968, and as the outbreak continues to gain further traction over the autumn and winter months to come, this series of weekly ‘Swine Flu Update’ articles will attempt to provide both informed editorial analysis and key national – and supranational – updates. With the Healthcare Protection Agency (HPA) estimating that there were around 110,000 new cases of Swine Flu in the UK for the week ending July 26th, the virus is doubtless continuing to gain considerable momentum. GP consultation rates continued to grow above those of a typical seasonal flu outbreak and the under 5s and 5-14 year olds continued to be age groups most predominately…
27-Aug-2010
The field of Medical Communications offers a whole host of opportunities for new science graduates - both in medical publishing and pharma.
Whilst typically broken down into several relatively distinct areas – such as Scientific Publishing and Medical Writing – broadly speaking, Medical Communications is the profession of communicating often complex scientific data and reports in a clear, straightforward and accessible manner. To a pharmaceutical company, this can mean the creation and continued editing of everything from research protocols, to clinical trial reports and product-specific marketing documentation for sales representatives. In contrast, work for a communications agency is likely to be less product specific – granting you the chance to work on a wider range of projects. Thus,…
Whilst typically broken down into several relatively distinct areas – such as Scientific Publishing and Medical Writing – broadly speaking, Medical Communications is the profession of communicating often complex scientific data and reports in a clear, straightforward and accessible manner. To a pharmaceutical company, this can mean the creation and continued editing of everything from research protocols, to clinical trial reports and product-specific marketing documentation for sales representatives. In contrast, work for a communications agency is likely to be less product specific – granting you the chance to work on a wider range of projects. Thus,…
27-Aug-2010
Ahead of the NHS Confederation Conference last month, David Nicholson, Chief Executive of NHS pulled no punches with his assessment of NHS finances.
Ahead of the NHS Confederation Conference last month, David Nicholson, Chief Executive of NHS pulled no punches with his assessment of NHS finances. He stated that the NHS would need to find £15-20 billion over the next three years; and that ‘all bets were off’ as to where that money might come from. Well respected NHS senior managers like Mike Farrar, Chief Executive at North West Strategic Health Authority are singing a similarly radical tune. Describing the financial crisis about to beset the whole service, Dr Farrar predicted that the NHS would need to embrace and invest in new technology much faster and think radically differently about h…
Ahead of the NHS Confederation Conference last month, David Nicholson, Chief Executive of NHS pulled no punches with his assessment of NHS finances. He stated that the NHS would need to find £15-20 billion over the next three years; and that ‘all bets were off’ as to where that money might come from. Well respected NHS senior managers like Mike Farrar, Chief Executive at North West Strategic Health Authority are singing a similarly radical tune. Describing the financial crisis about to beset the whole service, Dr Farrar predicted that the NHS would need to embrace and invest in new technology much faster and think radically differently about h…
