Author: Lynne Taylor

The world’s emerging markets now account for a fast-rising share of global pharma sales, and this rate of growth will accelerate faster to 2020. However, these markets can be perilous for companies which look to them simply for a quick and easy profit, an industry conference has heard.

International drugmakers are currently putting decisions about whether to invest in the UK on hold, while they await the outcome of ongoing government/industry discussions on a renegotiated Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, industry leaders have warned.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) spent a total of $22,733,400 last year on Congressional lobbying activities, an increase of around 25% on 2006’s figure, according to disclosure forms posted with Congressional public records services and publicised by the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP).

As ministers in Thailand’s new government prepare for a meeting next week which will finally decide whether or not they will abandon the country’s programme of compulsory drug licensing, international pressure from both critics and supporters of the policy is growing.

The upcoming changes to Japan’s pricing mechanism for prescription medicines will not include any radical developments and will reflect the government’s focus on containing health care spending, according to a new report from Decision Resources.