News

Shire has posted lower-than-expected sales for the first quarter, although its attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder treatments once again performed well.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) says it is “dismayed” at the response of the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s latest annual report on intellectual property rights (IPR) protection to the “deteriorating protections for patented medicines” in India.

The rate of younger women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK has hit the 10,000 mark for the first time. 

The new Wales Life Sciences Investment Fund has made its first investment, backing Merthyr Tydfil-based clinical research organisation Simbec Research.

Clinical trials of cancer therapies tend to be smaller and less rigorous than those conducted in other disease areas, raising questions about oncology treatments’ effectiveness in practice, a new analysis has found.

As expected, Sanofi’s earnings for the first quarter have been battered by generics, though the French drugmaker’s diabetes drugs and vaccines helped soften the blow.

UK patients with type II diabetes have gained another option to help control blood sugar levels with the launch of Sanofi’s therapy Lyxumia in the country this week.

Parexel delivered another strong quarter of growth in revenue and operating profits, ahead of analysts’ estimates, for the three months ended 31 March 2013.

At the start of its European Month of the Brain, the European Commission has announced funding of around 150 million euros for 20 new international brain research projects, bringing the total European Union (EU) investment in brain research since 2007 to over 1.9 billion euros. 

Allergan’s stock has taken a hit – despite posting better-than-expected first-quarter results – after the group revealed it will delay Phase III testing of its investigational eye drug on weak mid-stage data.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will now move ahead with drafting a policy on proactive access to clinical-trial data for medicines that have completed their marketing-authorisation process.

Lilly has come first in the industry’s biggest customer satisfaction survey for best medical sales representatives, jumping from third place last year, and shunting Pfizer into second place, while AstraZeneca moved to third place from last year’s position at number two.  

Lundbeck has posted a strong set of financials for the first quarter but has stuck to its earnings guidance for the full year, due to increased generic competition and launch costs.

New good practice guidance for medicines optimisation has been launched today by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). It is endorsed by NHS England, medical Royal Colleges and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

Merck & Co has suffered a decline in sales and profits in the first quarter, hit by patent expiries on its asthma/allergic rhinitis blockbuster Singulair and disappointing sales for some big-earners, notably the diabetes drug Januvia.