Europe’s drugmakers have linked up with software development firm Solidsoft which will use a Microsoft cloud platform to put in place a system to track the authenticity of the more-than-10 billion products dispensed across the continent every year.
News
Gov’t unveils plan to cull health tourism
The government has published a set of proposals designed to put an end to so-called ‘health tourism” and claw back uncollected charges owed from foreign use of the National Health Service.
GSK tests ofatumumab in rare skin disorder
GlaxoSmithKline is to start a new Phase III study of ofatumumab as a treatment for pemphigus vulgaris, a rare autoimmune disorder of the skin, according to partner Genmab.
Imperial signs up for £30m loan to invest in UK biotech
UK investment group Imperial innovations has bagged a £30-million, 12-year loan from the European Investment Bank to plug into the country’s biotech and therapeutics sectors.
New problems for NHS 111 as NHS Direct drops contracts
Embattled urgent care telephone triage line NHS 111 has been dealt a further blow after NHS Direct confirmed it has pulled out of two contracts to provide the service, with the future of others in doubt.
No progress in bowel cancer emergency admissions, audit finds
The number of patients with bowel cancer admitted to hospital as an emergency case has stayed level over the last four years, remaining at a “stubborn” 21%-22%, or one in five patients.
Paraxel signs up Rutgers New Jersey Medical School as Key Alliance Site
US-based biopharmaceutical services provider Parexel International has designated Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) in Newark as a Key Alliance Site for hosting clinical trials from Parexel’s client base.
Single shot of Biogen’s haemophilia drug controls 87% of bleeds
Biogen Idec and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) have unveiled late-stage clinical data that seem to support the clinical and safety profile of their long-lasting recombinant factor VIII candidate Eloctate, which is currently under review for haemophilia A.
US priority review for Roche’s ‘breakthrough’ leukaemia drug
US regulators will conduct an accelerated review of Roche group Genentech’s ‘breakthrough’ leukaemia drug obinutuzumab.
Pharma “a prime target” of govt health cuts in 2011, says OECD
After falling sharply in 2010, health spending remained flat across Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries in 2011, but pharmaceutical spending, as a “prime target” for health cost cuts, experienced deeper cuts during the year, the Organisation reports.
Ariad leukaemia drug approved in Europe
Ariad Pharmaceuticals is celebrating after getting the green light from regulators in Europe for its leukaemia drug Iclusig.
Dissident lines up ex-AZ exec Zook as CEO in Vivus battle
Less than a fortnight before what should be a lively annual meeting, Vivus management and its leading shareholder (and most vocal critic) First Manhattan Co have been making their appeals to voters over the future direction of the company.
EFPIA unveils code for disclosure of doctor payments
Europe’s drugmakers have published their code designed to give more transparency to the sector’s financial relationships with doctors.
AstraZeneca expands targeted oncology collaboration with SCRI
AstraZeneca has expanded its existing collaboration with the US-based Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) for the development of targeted oncology compounds to include additional product candidates and a molecular profiling initiative.
Culture as well as language may impede Hispanic trial participation
A prevailing cultural conviction that the doctor always takes charge of treatment decisions may contribute to meagre participation rates in clinical trials among Hispanic cancer patients in the US, a new study has found.
