Author: PharmaTimes

Sanofi-Aventis has been given the green light by the European Commission for two new indications for Taxotere (docetaxel), its big-selling cancer drug.

Sepracor says it will not be launching its sleep drug, Lunesta (eszopiclone), as soon as it had planned, because the US Food and Drug Administration has recommended the product be classed as a schedule IV controlled substance – a process which has not yet been completed.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals received a boost yesterday after Sanofi-aventis said it would be returning the rights to develop the former’s experimental compound known as vascular endothelial growth factor trap, in eye disease, but would continue to investigate the product in the field of cancer.

Wyeth says it supports a proposal to amend the terms of the national diet drug settlement it established in 1999, following the withdrawal of its anti-obesity drugs, Pondimin (fenfluramine) and Redux (dexfenfluramine), two years previously. If approved, the move will see the settlement include the less-serious claims from people who said they were injured as a result of taking the products, and could significantly speed up the resolution of thousands of the claims pending against the firm and move it a step nearer to drawing a line under the diet drug litigation.

Germany’s Bayer says that it expects to launch its new chemicals and polymers unit, Lanxess, on the stock market on January 31, 2005, and the corresponding documents have been submitted to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.