Articles

New drug formulations, biological agents, combination therapies and the latest pharmaceutical developments designed to improve outcomes in patients with a wide range of cancers were highlighted at EMCC 2001. Here are just a few of the highlights:
New drug formulations, biological agents, combination therapies and the latest pharmaceutical developments designed to improve outcomes in patients with a wide range of cancers were highlighted at EMCC 2001. Here are just a few of the highlights: Progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) cancer was improved by more than 40% in a clinical trial designed to assess the benefit of a new antibody drug conjugate to that of conventional first-line therapy.Dr Sara Hurvitz (Director, Breast Oncology Progr…

Science is always at its most exciting when it looks to the far horizons. And the unavoidably controversial yet incredibly promising area of stem cell science provides arguably one of the most apt examples.
Science is always at its most exciting when it looks to the far horizons. And the unavoidably controversial yet incredibly promising area of stem cell science provides arguably one of the most apt examples. Indeed even to the most disinterested layman, the idea of using the human body’s own cellular foundations to regenerate damaged organs must surely evoke at least a flicker of excitement. Conversely, and to those patients for whom stem cell science may one day represent a potential new lease on life, this really is the science of dreams.Earlier this week, and in what looks set to beco…

Social media has probably become one of the most important forms of communication and interaction to date, and it is here to stay.
Social media has probably become one of the most important forms of communication and interaction to date, and it is here to stay. It has turned the world from passive consumers into active consumers, with people increasingly taking to the internet to voice their approval or concerns about a certain product, brand or service. With over 750million active users on Facebook, and over 200million Tweeters worldwide, anyone who takes to social media to make their voices heard can have an enormous audience to hear it. It has also so far been an area that many pharmaceutical and healthcare companies have hesitated getting involved in. It is as though there is a fear…

There’s a drugs shortage in America. That the construction of such a sentence is possible seems baffling for a nation that has led the world in medical innovation for decades.
There’s a drugs shortage in America. That the construction of such a sentence is possible seems baffling for a nation that has led the world in medical innovation for decades. As I first documented back in March, America is oft cited as the global leader in drug innovation. Measured by the metric of Nobel Prizes, a 2010 CATO Institute study showed that over 60% of the recipients of the Nobel Prize for Medicine between 1969-2008 hailed from the United States. Similarly, of the six most groundbreaking medical discoveries of the past 25 years, four find their roots on American soil.Given this stellar pedigree in medical…

Esther Dyson the Great Dame of Silicon Valley, at times matriarch to Bill Gates and many other lads on the innovative circuit, wrote a harsh column August 26th on GPS CNN on ICANN gTLD. I like and respect Esther especially her technical background, we have shared the podium, but as this topic deals with the centrality of global corporate nomenclature it demands an authoritative analysis and I feel it’s my responsibility to clarify and taken the liberty to address her entire piece item by item.
What's NOT a domain name?Esther Dyson the Great Dame of Silicon Valley, at times matriarch to Bill Gates and many other lads on the innovative circuit, wrote a harsh column August 26th on GPS CNN on ICANN gTLD. I like and respect Esther especially her technical background, we have shared the podium, b…

How common is it to work during your vacation? - Take our short survey.
How common is it to work during your vacation? We're doing some research to find out more about current trends, and the amount of work people undertake on their vacation, as well as how they do it. So, if you could help us by completing our short survey, I will put your name into the hat for some PharmiWeb.com freebies. (I've got mugs, pens, mouse mats, and all sorts of goodies) Thanks for your help!- The results will be published in due course. >>>CLICK HERE TO TAKE PART IN THE SURVEY<<<

For recent graduates from science, medicine, or mathematics programs, applying for work in the ever-expanding pharmaceutical industry can be an intelligent choice for both career and financial stability. Depending on the industry upon which you choose to focus, the rules and expectations during the interview process can vary.
For recent graduates from science, medicine, or mathematics programs, applying for work in the ever-expanding pharmaceutical industry can be an intelligent choice for both career and financial stability. Depending on the industry upon which you choose to focus, the rules and expectations during the interview process can vary. Interviewing is a skill in and of itself, and there are a number of commonalities when it comes to making sure that one’s interview is succ…

Almost irrespective of the country you live in, the increasing costs of healthcare are unavoidable. For governments, the stresses are particularly acute, as both aging populations and the increasing cost of treatments add financial pressures year on year. Yet as a new study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) confirms, we should not underestimate the extent to which the shape of the state has already changed.
Almost irrespective of the country you live in, the increasing costs of healthcare are unavoidable. For governments, the stresses are particularly acute, as both aging populations and the increasing cost of treatments add financial pressures year on year. Yet as a new study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) confirms, we should not underestimate the extent to which the sha…

At a moment when the national discourse on international aid is grounded in pessimism, David Cameron’s pledge to commit £814m to help vaccinate the world’s poorest children provides an necessary reminder of what international aid really can achieve.
In a climate defined by fiscal retrenchment and tight purse strings, the Coalition government’s still-kept pledge to increase the UK’s international aid budget to 0.7% of GDP by 2013 has been controversial at best. International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell has delivered some excellent performances in defence of the policy — particularly in terms of his promises to root out waste and corruption — but the general public still remains broadly split on the issue, as this recent article by the Spectator shows. By any definition, two to one…

Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia ®) delivered rapid and consistent improvements in a broad range of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients after 12 weeks of treatment regardless of whether or not they had received prior TNF inhibitors or whether or not they were receiving concomitant DMARDs, concluded the latest analysis of the Phase III b REALISTIC trial presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) meeting in London, May 25-28 (abstract FRI021).
Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia ®) delivered rapid and consistent improvements in a broad range of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients after 12 weeks of treatment regardless of whether or not they had received prior TNF inhibitors or whether or not they were receiving concomitant DMARDs, concluded the latest analysis of the Phase III b REALISTIC tri…

Both drugs are protease inhibitors (PIs) and are designed to block an enzyme that helps the hepatitis C virus replicate. Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus, which is transmitted through contaminated blood. The infection can cause liver failure and liver cancer.
An advisory committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has voted unanimously that Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (VRTX) hepatitis C drug telaprevir and Merck’s hepatitis C drug, broceprevir should be approved by the FDA. The FDA decision is expected later this month. Both drugs are protease inhibitors (PIs) and are designed to block an enzyme that helps the hepatitis C virus replicate. Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus, which is transmitted…

Brand managers and marketing leads are always striving to gain that first step of engagement, particularly in our world of pharmaceutical manufacturing. And with good reason. Customer engagement leads to improved understanding, which drives loyalty and ultimately improved health.
Brand managers and marketing leads are always striving to gain that first step of engagement, particularly in our world of pharmaceutical manufacturing. And with good reason. Customer engagement leads to improved understanding, which drives loyalty and ultimately improved health.I believe that mobile apps present marketers with a tremendous opportunity to encourage the kind of consumer engagement we are seeking in this industry. With the launch of the iPad2, Motorola XOOM, Samsung Galaxy and numerous smartphones i…

In competitive job searching, every little helps, and one thing that is often overlooked is your email address.
In competitive job searching, every little helps, and one thing that is often overlooked is your email address.Admittedly, it might not be the thing that gets your CV thrown out or put to the top of the pile, but a recruiter will typically form a "picture" of you in the role they are recruiting for, so you don't want to put anything forward which might plant seeds of "suitability doubt" in their minds, so why take the chance. We see a lot of CV's and a lot of email addresses, and you would be surprised how bizarre some of them are. Imagine a hypothetical situation: a recruiter is looking at 2 CVs, both identical except for the email address. Who do you think would have the advanta…

Want to know which Pharma companies are on Twitter? - here's a list..
I've been keeping track on the pharma companies on Twitter, and the presence and activity varies significantly. Anyway here is the current list for your reference. If you notice any errors or omissions, let me know.  ABPIAccess pharmaActavisAkzonobelAllerganAlnylamAmgenAmgen FoundationAstellas USAstra Zeneca JobsAstraZenecaAstraZeneca - joinastrazenecaAstrazeneca USAstraZenecaNLAzco BiotechAZhelpsBaxterBayerBayer HealthCareBayer JovensBayer PressBayer SanteBayer ScheringBayer SDBayer UK / IrelandBayer US NewsBayer US NewsBayer VitalBayerM SMSBioIndustry AssociationBMS NewsbmsinfoBoehringerBoehringer GermanyBoehringer GreeceBoehringer SpainBoehringer USBoehringernldBristol_MyersDaiichi SankyoDiabetes_sanofiElan…

This week is Code Awareness Week and the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) is launching an e-learning module for health professionals
This week is Code Awareness Week and the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) is launching an e-learning module for health professionalsLondon, 4 April 2011 – The pharmaceutical industry effectively self regulates and operates to the highest ethical standards as laid out in The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry (the Code). This week is Code Awareness Week. The Code was recently updated and will become fully operational from 1 May. Key changes to note are: 1. Promotional aids eg mugs, diaries, stationery and the like are no longer acceptable. Inexpe…

Since the very dawn of Western capitalism, competition has been synonymous with success. Indeed, in accounting for the past 500 years of Western ascendancy in the world, Professor Niall Ferguson of Harvard University points to six ‘killer apps’. The first of these, unsurprisingly, is competition
Since the very dawn of Western capitalism, competition has been synonymous with success. Indeed, in accounting for the past 500 years of Western ascendancy in the world, Professor Niall Ferguson of Harvard University points to six ‘killer apps’. The first of these, unsurprisingly, is competition. However in the world of healthcare, this theory has faced more than its fair share of criticism. Doubtless, few sensible men would argue that healthcare has not benefitted from the entrepreneurial pressur…

Earlier this month the UK drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline announced a groundbreaking and progressive new scheme for graduates, whereby from 2012 the company will offer to reimburse in full the university tuition fees of the entirety its future graduate intake.
In the final months of 2010, the subject of student tuition fees dominated our political discourse. What originated as relatively civil and contained acts of protest quickly mutated into angry and ultimately violent conflict at the heart of Britain’s capital city. The bellowing voice of extremism had once again drowned out the silent minority and images of discord and chaos dominated our television screens. At the zenith of the violence, the London headquarters of the Conservative Party was attacked, destroying the building’s main lobby…

After six months of sometimes lively pursuit, the French pharmaceutical group, Sanofi-aventis, has agreed a deal to pay $20.1bn in cash for U.S. biotech firm Genzyme Corp after Sanofi made an increased offer of $74 per share.
Once completed, the deal will represent the biggest pharmaceutical takeover since 2009 and the largest acquisition by the group since its $50bn purchase of Aventis back in 2004. In view of excited predictions from Genzyme executives on potential sales of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), each share will also be linked to tradable Contingent Value Rights (CVRs) worth up to $14 a share if all performance milestones are reached. While Genzyme predicts sales for Lemtrada approaching $3.5bn, Sanofi has been somewhat more reserved in its estimates. While payments mainly depend on th…

Social networking sites such as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter are all the rage – there’s no escaping them, they’re everywhere – even in the workplace, and whether you like it or not, they’re not going away.
Social networking sites such as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter are all the rage – there’s no escaping them, they’re everywhere – even in the workplace, and whether you like it or not, they’re not going away. Here at the CK Group, we are passionate about social media and the benefits it can bring to your business. We are strong believers that social media can be an invaluable tool in not only attracting and recruiting staff but also in retaining them. From our experience, when it comes to social media, staff retention is often an area which is overlooked and under utilised. In fact, a s…

NextPharma is lowering healthcare costs in an environment of continuing Pharma industry restructuring
NextPharma is lowering healthcare costs in an environment of continuing Pharma industry restructuringWhen Pharma companies choose an outsourcing partner, they are looking for a responsible organisation with an ‘end to end’ service that provides quality, reliability, innovation and excellence in development, manufacturing and logistics - as well as a first rate customer experience. NextPharma, a recent acquisition by an affiliate of Sun European Partners, is uniquely positioned to be a leading outsourcing partner for development, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of a broad range of products and formulations for its customers from tablets and capsules to antibiotics, hormones and…