Author: Selina McKee

Cancer patients in the UK experiencing ‘breakthrough’ pain have gained access to a new means of reducing their discomfort following yesterday’s nationwide launch of Nycomed’s first-in-class nasal spray Instanyl.

Godalming, UK-based Sinclair Pharma is shelling out 17.5 million euros for global rights (excluding the UK and Italy) to Belgian drugmaker Solvay Pharmaceuticals’ dermatology products Flammazine and Flammacerium.

Shares in UK drug group Shire closed down a little over 1% last night after promising results from a head-to-head study of its phosphate binder Fosrenol and Genzyme’s Renagel failed to alight investor enthusiasm.

Nearly 40% of people in the UK delay visiting the GP because they don’t want to bother their doctor, a Cancer Research UK survey has revealed, but this attitude could be preventing the early diagnosis of many serious diseases including cancer.

The European Commission has confirmed that is has started surprise inspections at the offices of various pharmaceutical companies suspected of anti-competitive behaviour across the European Union.