MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'biopharma'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:28:10 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107893&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FXpncqmok5No%2F Rise and shine. Another day is on the way. And it looks to be a sunny one here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we are brewing a delicious cup of mandatory stimulation. Our flavor today is Southern Pecan. Please join us. After all, there is much to do as meetings and deadlines beckon. You know the score, so time to dig in. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits. Have a great day and let us know if you hear of something interesting… FDA Approval Of Roche Melanoma Drug May Come Early (Reuters) Pfizer Sends Israeli Sniffing Dogs To Finland (The Jerusalem Post) Revlimid Side Effects Linked To Protein In Study (Reuters) Valeant Pharma Eyes Medicis For Another Acquisition (Pharma Times) Merck And J&J Sit On Piles Of Cash (The Star-Ledger of New Jersey) Lexicon Tumor Drug Shows Posit... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107893 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:06:27 +0100 5107893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960273&cid=t_102265_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fampligen%25c2%25ae-to-be-tested-in-phase-iii-study-in-tandem-with-upenn-ovarian-cancer-vaccine%2F Hemispherx Biopharma’s Ampligen® is being tested in combination with an experimental ovarian cancer vaccine developed by the Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center. Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (“Hemispherx”) announced yesterday that it entered into a Material Transfer and Research Agreement with the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine to provide Ampligen® [rintatolimod; poly(I)•poly(C12,U)], an experimental therapeutic, for [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960273 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:36:50 +0100 4960273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945196&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FJchz9jURj0s%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that ABC Laboratories hired Brad Benson as a senior consulting scientist in its CMC Development Services team. In his new role, he will work in program design and technical consultation for both large and small molecule drugs. Most recently, he was ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945196 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:15:28 +0100 4945196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168207&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FTHVm9RmTCig%2F This study really challenges that view.” One of the study researchers, Peter Kowey of the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, told a briefing at the American Heart Association meeting taking place this week “the fact that this drug failed in this population makes it highly unlikely that you would be able to prove efficacy in other groups,” according to Reuters. Indicated for reducing high triglycerides, the implication is that, rather than quickly expand Lovaza into a full-blown heart med, Glaxo will now have to struggle to expand beyond the health-store crowd. For its part, Glaxo says it will continue to review the data in the context of other studies, but conceded in this statement that, “in this patient population, there was clearly no benefit from Lovaza.&#... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168207 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:10:42 +0100 4168207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4023136&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaBVESgBwv5s%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is something that’s become a regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that Mallinckrodt Baker has announced the appointment of Robert Harrer as executive vp, chief financial officer and chief administrative officer. In his new role, Harrer will focus on MB’s transition to a stand-alone en... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4023136 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:55:55 +0100 4023136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3891790&cid=t_102265_132_f&fid=35011&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fmndoci%2F%7E3%2FudzG15rSyUo%2F Ready two blog posts back to back, and realized just how much of a change in approach the biopharma industry needs. In post #1 Derek Lowe reproduces a letter from someone at a big pharma companies with a lot of analogies and metaphors comparing pharma to Hollywood. Part of the thrust of the letter is a lament about risk aversion in big pharma. In addition to highlighting areas where the analogies work and where they analogies break down comes this little bit All that said, I think that the key point here is that there’s no equivalent in the drug industry to indie filmmaking, which is too bad. Our fixed costs are much, much, higher due to the field we operate in – human health and the regulations around it. My question is – is there any way to bring these down? Of course... business|bytes|genes|molecules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3891790 Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:00:14 +0100 3891790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552479&cid=t_102265_132_f&fid=35011&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fmndoci%2F%7E3%2F3fXFN7LeCBI%2F Image by zh1yong via Flickr $10 million. Yes, that’s the amount of money that a certain Bill Gates has invested in Schrödinger via his private investment company. As Derek Lowe notes in his excellent Nature News article, Schrödinger is no stranger to billionaire benefactors, having enjoyed a long relationship with D. E. Shaw (someone I really admire and envy), but that relationship has been as much about science as anything else (as evidenced by Desmond). The first thing that makes this interesting is the size of the investment (according to Lowe revenues are estimated at $20 million, which sounds about right), but what I am really interested in is what the investment might be used for. Lowe speculates that one possible project would be “to collaborate with industrial dru... business|bytes|genes|molecules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552479 Tue, 11 May 2010 05:20:29 +0100 3552479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499310&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fc7rH860i2x4%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is something we hope to make a regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that MedPanel named Frank Dolan as senior vice president and will oversee the market research firm’s commercial effectiveness solutions group. He has previously worked for Parke-Davis, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Kos Pharma... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499310 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:44:21 +0100 3499310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3487371&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FOyT2YYMmp-E%2F Rise and shine. Another day beckons. And this is a special one here on the Pharmalot corporate campus as one of the short people celebrates a birthday. An especially large cup of stimulation is in order…among other things. While we fuss, please enjoy these items and, of course, have a nice day… Acura Pharma Has FDA Panel Meeting (TheStreet) Biogen Profit Falls, Tysabri Sales Rise (Reuters) Boehringer-Ingelheim Considers More Takeovers (Bloomberg News) J&J Drug Sales Slump (Reuters) Novartis Profit Rises On Flu Vaccines (Bloomberg News) Roche Arthritis Drug Meets Goal, Safety Issues Linger (Reuters) Raloxifene And Tamoxifen Both Guard Against Breast Cancer (HealthDay) Array Signs $467M Deal With Novartis (Reuters) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3487371 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:58:36 +0100 3487371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3433168&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2F1Vufs3-Fqd4%2Fbiotech-is-still-lagging-in-social.html (Source: ePharma Summit) ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3433168 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:47:00 +0100 3433168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3416324&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FSwMkgjZm9wc%2F Talk about being blunt. In an unusual resignation letter to the BioMarin Pharmaceutical board, one former member offers some tantalizing tidbits about developments at the company - the way serious acquisition offers are handled by the ceo; the handling of an ongoing investigation of a ’serious matter’ by the board’s audit committee, and disagreement over the combining the roles of chairman and ceo, among other things. This is a far cry from the standard ‘thanks for the memories’ departure. Instead, Joseph Klein III, who is also on the board of OSI Pharmaceuticals, PDL BioPharma, Savient Pharmaceuticals, Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Guilford Pharmaceuticals, and NPS Pharmaceuticals, writes that ceo Jean-Jacques Bienaime (see photo) unexpectedly phoned him earli... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3416324 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:32:03 +0100 3416324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3363772&cid=t_102265_132_f&fid=35011&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fmndoci%2F%7E3%2F2zc50UROtzQ%2F Dan Koboldt has a great post on the state of sequencing in 2010 (can we drop “next-gen” now?), and beyond I guess. It’s certainly getting crowded out there, and it did look like that the major players were essentially fighting for the same space and share of the market, but based on what Dan says, that seems to be changing. I should add that I am not in the trenches, and my interests lie on the data management, analysis and infrastructure side of things, so can’t comment on individual technologies per se. It’s interesting to see how various players seem to be positioning themselves, although where folks end up and who survives will depend on all kinds of factors. The scientific market is fickle and quite honestly, the factors that define success are not alway... business|bytes|genes|molecules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3363772 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:19:29 +0100 3363772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3244050&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FvsxrDoBSY9s%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is something we hope to make a regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that Genzyme hired Lilly’s former head of manufacturing, Scott Canute, to run manufacturing and operations. He will be in charge of pulling rabbits out of hats, given Genzyme’s embarassing problems at a plant that... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3244050 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:50:14 +0100 3244050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890856&cid=t_102265_132_f&fid=35011&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fmndoci%2F%7E3%2FlleAz5rc2Pw%2F A few days ago, via the typical following of links that is typical of a good search and browse section on the interwebs, I chanced upon a discussion about a presentation given by Justin Gehtland at RailsConf. The talk was entitled Small Things, Loosely Joined, Written Fast and that title has been stuck in my head ever since. Funnily enough, what was in my head was not software, and web architectures, cause today, I consider that particular approach almost essential to building good applications and scalable infrastructures, and most people in the community seem to understand that (not sure about scientific programmers though). What I started thinking about was if that particular philosophy could be extended to the biopharma industry. Without making direct analogies, but without suspending... business|bytes|genes|molecules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890856 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:29:04 +0100 2890856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2323813&cid=t_102265_132_f&fid=35011&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fmndoci%2F%7E3%2FJnXhyOQpwqg%2F Image via Wikipedia Every all-hands meeting I learn something new. This time the word that I heard Jeff Bezos use was trystorming, described as brainstorming, except that instead of talking about things you actually try things out. That’s something that most of us can relate to. Many of us spend too much time doing to former, although recent trends in iterative software development, availability of cheap on-demand computing, and the rise of frameworks like Ruby on Rails and SCMs’ like git which encourage rapid prototyping are definitely a positive trend, at least in the software space. Also this week, I got my hands on a paper by Sanjoy Ray Director of Technology Innovation at Merck written for Pharma Focus Asia. Unfortunately you need to register to get to the paper (free I be... business|bytes|genes|molecules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2323813 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:22:47 +0100 2323813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2323819&cid=t_102265_132_f&fid=35011&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fmndoci%2F%7E3%2FcKphE4nAsD4%2F Interesting post from Joerg, who is not so sure about open innovation in drug design. He makes some good points, with the observation In other words, if you do not need the money, do whatever you like openly. If you need the money, e.g. for clinical trials, then please make sure staying within the same legal framework, which is most probably not open! And here is where I diverge. The very essence of the Creative Commons movement, the setting up of open source licenses, etc was to provide an open, legal framework for sharing content or software. Such a framework doesn’t exist in the drug discovery world, so yes, today open innovation is difficult. But that doesn’t mean it is not a goal we should not seek to attain. We need the Larry Lessig types who will push the open innovat... business|bytes|genes|molecules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2323819 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:09:46 +0100 2323819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2323821&cid=t_102265_132_f&fid=35011&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fmndoci%2F%7E3%2FcQTsGDa6N6s%2F Image via Wikipedia So I am supposed to be writing about innovation in the Biopharma industry. Here’s in idea that I’ve had that might be worth discussing (sometimes I wish I had the patience to write with the depth of Michael Nielsen). Last year we heard about Goldman Sachs funding an innovative pharma business model, but at that time I felt that the stage they had chosen was too late. One of the biggest expenses in pharmaceutical drug development is attrition. For all kinds of reasons, various programs never make it, leads are discarded, etc. I wonder if there is a place for marketplace or pool where companies can throw in discarded compounds or programs. Then, someone else can pick up a compound, or lead series or two, associated information which could be made available (ne... business|bytes|genes|molecules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2323821 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:51:28 +0100 2323821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056348&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F489690639%2F Here’s one way to shorten your commute. PDL BioPharma has just moved its headquarters from Redwood City, California, to Incline Village, Nevada, a Lake Tahoe resort community known as a destination for Californians looking to escape high tax rates (check out the activities). And guess who lives there? A John P. McLaughlin is listed as a resident, according to The San Francisco Business Times. A fellow by the same name was recently hired by PDL as its $500,000-a-year ceo and an out-of-state move was announced just last month. At the same time, its biotech unit was spun off and named Facet, following a revolt by some of PDL’s largest shareholders. The uprising led to the sale of several compounds, hundreds of layoffs and the departure of then-CEO Mark McDade (back story). PDL then d... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056348 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:17:23 +0100 2056348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1945452&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F445486132%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? Amarin named Lars Ekman to its board; Critical Outcome Technologies named Michael Cloutier as ceo; Becton Dickinson hired David Elkins as cfo; Becton Dickinson promoted Vincent Forlenza to president; Biovail hired H. Christian Fibiger as senior vp and chief scientific officer; Tracon Pharmaceuticals appointed Bryan Leigh as chief medical officer; Novexel tapped Ken Coleman ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1945452 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:30:10 +0100 1945452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1833427&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F402837102%2F Many apologies for the extraordinarily late start today. An unexpected event cropped up this morning that prevented us from pursuing our usual routine. Now, though, we are poised to resume the flow of interesting items. We appreciate your patience and hope that your day goes well… Merck License Osteoporosis Drug From Japan Tobacco (Yahoo/AP) Ligand To Buy Pharmacopeia For $70 Million (Yahoo/AP) Medtronic To Buy CryoCath For $380 Million (Yahoo/Reuters) PDL BioPharma Names CEO For Spinoff (Yahoo/Associated Press) Boston Scientific Wins FDA Approval For New Stents (Yahoo/Reuters) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833427 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:20:00 +0100 1833427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1742941&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F378000142%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? Barton Cobert MD is now doing drug safety consulting at BLCMD Associates; Oxford BioMedica ceo Mike McDonald has left; Biovail hired Neil Sussman as vp, neurologic and psychiatric development; Biovail hired Peggy Mulligan as chief financial officer; Sepracor hired Richard Ranieri as executive vp, human resources; Sepracor hired Julio Casoy as senior vp, medical affairs; Som... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1742941 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:28:32 +0100 1742941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1405464&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F279633688%2F Artificial blood products increased the risk of death by 30 percent and almost tripled the risk of heart attacks in 16 clinical trials, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers write that the FDA should have stopped the studies eight years ago, but meanwhile five trials are still under way and another is about to begin. Eight years ago, the FDA received data on individual studies showing increased risks that should have triggered suspension of testing until a large-scale analysis could be conducted, according to the researchers, who say the FDA should end the trials and Congress should review rules forcing the agency to keep info on new products confidential for competitive reasons. “One straightforward solution to these problems would ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1405464 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:07:54 +0100 1405464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1382622&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F272793373%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs being announced each month. Despite downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? Metabolex hired Donald Hill as cfo; AVOS Life Sciences hired Michael Goodman as vp; Eisai hired Bob Laverty as vp of communications; Introgen Therapeutics added Robert Pearson to its board; Roche Carolina named Hans Groeger site manager of its Florence facility; Adventrx Pharma named Jose Hechavarria vp of manufacturing; Secure Symbology named Adam Fe... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1382622 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:24:21 +0100 1382622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1344613&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F262325928%2F Please forgive the silence of the past few hours. We encountered all manner of technical difficulties, the least of which is a somewhat mangled lap top. These things happen when you spend all your time with one of these machines. Now, though, the time has come to turn our attention to our short people and their assorted adventures. See you tomorrow… Yet another disappointment for Pfizer. This time, the drugmaker halted a Phase III study of a drug for advanced melanoma after data showed it was no better than chemotherapy. The news sent its stock down about 2 percent in after-hours trading. At a recent meeting with analysts, Pfizer made a point of saying oncology is a big priority. PDL BioPharma will pay four top execs close to $1 million in retention bonuses through 2009 as a restruct... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1344613 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:31:53 +0100 1344613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1332727&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F259577222%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs being announced each month. Despite downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? Depomed hired Abid Rawn as vp sales and marketing; Regeneron promoted Joanne Deyo to vp facilities; EKR Therapeutics named Richard DeSimone as COO; EKR Therapeutics hired Ernic Biczak as senior vp marketing; EKR Therapeutics hired Dave Iwanicki as senior vp commercial operations; EKR Therapeutics hired Stephen Hulse as vp sales; EKR Therapeutics promo... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1332727 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:13:42 +0100 1332727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=976545&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F174509515%2F The clouds continue to hover over the nation’s medicine chest as the day winds down. Even so, a new batch of items has arrived. Take a peek before you go on your way… Amgen Reports Anemia Quarterly Results (TheStreet.com) Express Scripts Profits Rise On Generics (Bloomberg News) AVI BioPharma To Restate Earlier Results (Yahoo/Reuters) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=976545 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:08:33 +0100 976545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=957422&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F171089254%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going. Here are some of the latest moves… ImpactRx named Greg Gallo, an exec vp, to head of business development; ImpactRx promoted Jill Walton to vp-gm oncology biz unit; EntreMed appointed Ken Bair sr vp of research and development; MacroChem named Mike Zasloff to its scientific advisory board; Ricerca Biosciences appointed Jim Szabo vp, biology services; Digitas Health named Kieran Walsh to senior vp; Bacchus Vascular appointed Scott Cramer ceo and president; CeNeRx BioPharma added Danl Burch as chief me... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=957422 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:10:43 +0100 957422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=894335&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F160564679%2F And so we all return from the weekend. Hope yours was enjoyable. Ours was splendid. We managed to mow the lawn yesterday, a rare event that met with the approval of the neighbors (not that we care all that much). And we took the shortest of the short people on a hayride to pick a few pumpkins. Now, though, we are again scouring the world for interesting insights. Here are a few of the latest… EU Delays Schering-Plough, Organon Review For Two Weeks (CNNMoney/Dow Jones) EU Approves Pfizer’s Selzentry AIDS Drug (Yahoo/Reuters) Glaxo Wins EU Approval To Sell Cervarix HPV Vaccine (Bloomberg News) Novartis’ Exelon Alzheimer’s Patch Approved By EU (CNN/Thomson Financial) Lilly Sues Sun Pharma To Block Generic Version Of Strattera (Bloomberg News) FDA Delays Approval Of Gla... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=894335 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:10:00 +0100 894335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=844127&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F152713291%2F And so the end of another busy day draws near. We spent much of our time on R&D, researching and developing interesting items for you to digest in coming days. We look forward to posting them. Meanwhile, we must move on to other matters and hope you enjoy these as you unwind…. Teva May Begin Selling Generic Famvir (Bloomberg News) FDA Clears 14 Companies To Sell Generic Coreg (Yahoo/Reuters) What Is PDL BioPharma Really Worth? (The Motley Fool) Medtronic To Cut 900 Jobs As Part Of Restructuring (Bloomberg News) J&J’s Procrit Can Help Critically Ill Trauma Patients: Study (Yahoo/Reuters) The FDA’s Inadequate Response To The IOM (The New England Journal of Medicine) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=844127 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:59:53 +0100 844127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=811317&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F146216031%2F For those who haven’t followed this soap opera, Mark McDade earlier this year refused to quit under pressure from Dan Loeb, who runs Third Point LLC, a hedge fund and PDL’s biggest shareholder. Their feud made headlines when Loeb questioned McDade’s decision to spend $100 million to move headquarters from Fremont, Calif., to Redwood City, which is closer to his home. A key feature of the digs - a boat slip. In February, Loeb issued a statement accusing McDade of “empire-building philosophy, pathological selfishness and poor business judgment,” and of rejecting a takeover bid from a drugmaker for more than $30 a share, or 50 percent more than the stock price at the time. PDL’s chairman supported McDade, but not a company co-founder. For his part, McDade said he d... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=811317 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:58:51 +0100 811317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=728654&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F132676849%2F The commercialization of clinical trials is becoming a hot topic. Last week, we read the tale of PPD, the big clinical research organization, which took a big stake in cash-starved Accentia BioPharma and hopes to earn 14 percent on royalties if a sinus drug its testing for the company gets approved by the FDA. Beyond the excitement of a good deal for whichever corporation is involved, at issue is the patient. The PPD deal with Accentia was criticized, by some, as a conflict of interest, while others either defended the arrangement or downplayed any problems. So we asked you to vote whether the deal is, indeed, a conflict. Here are the results…. Yes - 52 voters, or 78 percent, agreed the deal is a conflict; No - 15 voters, or 22 percent, disagreed. Total Voters: 67 Granted, this isn&#... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=728654 Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:43:21 +0100 728654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=624598&cid=t_102265_150_f&fid=35603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrugreptoys.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fcardene-flash-drive.html This is a neat little flash drive. When plugged into a computer, that little gray oval near the keychain loop lights up red. Very distinctive. The gift of this number capped perhaps the oddest interaction I've yet had with a drug rep. She seemed genuinely surprised that I had heard of this drug, which has been available for over a decade. Perhaps she was trying to pull off flattery, but she came across as clueless or condescending, I couldn't decide which. (Source: Drug Rep Toys) Drug Rep Toys blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=624598 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 22:36:00 +0100 624598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=478746&cid=t_102265_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F12%2Fgenerex-regulatory-affairs-request%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Opinion, Blogs, ProductsAt the request of the Regulatory Affairs Manager at Generex, I am posting the following to defend the accuracy of the packaging and the claim of the product. The initial blog addressed a product called Glucose RapidSpray. The reader feedback, as well as the regulatory affairs response, is listed below. In no way, does Generex imply this product is to be used to treat hypoglycemia. The comment to the original post stated: The nutritional label on the product (available as a PDF on their web site) says the product has 188mg of carbs (or .188g) per serving (5 sprays). A typical glucose tablet has 4g... that's about 21x more carbs in a single glucose tablet than in 5 sprays of RapidSpray. Considering you typically us... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=478746 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 478746