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 'imclone'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:28:52 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4780487&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FE701Bp9oFBU%2F The FDA Bad Ad program, in which someone drops a dime on offending promotional materials, has turned up another violator. The latest is Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals, which is headed by former ImClone Systems ceo and convicted inside trader, Sam Waksal. In a warning letter posted on the FDA web site, Sam & Co. are taken to task for a host of offenses in connection with a Statgram communication for the Infergen hepatitis c treatment - omitting and minimizing risk info; broadening the indication and omitting important facts; overstating efficiacy; making unsubstantiated claims, and failing to provide adequate directions for use. In short, Three Rivers did almost nothing right. Topping the list: the Statgram claims docs can obtain additional prescribing info, including the safety profile ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4780487 Tue, 03 May 2011 12:34:48 +0100 4780487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684761&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F7VtbjQj12Pw%2F Good morning, everyone. Another brand new day is on the way. Of course, this calls for a hearty cup of stimluation - our flavor today is Cinnamon Cream Swirl. Feel free to grab one yourself, or a bottle of water if you prefer, and join us as we peruse the news of the world. As always, we appreciate tips and hints and allegations. So send them our way. Meanwhile, have a great day and see you soon… J&J May Do $10B Deals To Bolster Growth (Bloomberg News) Synthetic Drugs Send Thousands To Emergency Rooms (Associated Press) Merck’s Dutch R&D Unit To Keep Some Jobs After All (Reuters) The Valent Pharma CEO And His Acquisition Binge (Bloomberg News) Where Are The ImClone Alumni? (Xconomy) FDA Approves Restless Legs Syndrome Med (Reuters) AstraZeneca Wins FDA Approval Of Thy... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684761 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:03:32 +0100 4684761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4106057&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FX1ezGGv-oYM%2F Who can forget Sam Waksal? The former ceo at ImClone Systems, which is now part of Eli Lilly, became notorious for his role in the insider trading scandal that sent his friend, the ubiquitous Martha Stewart, to jail. Sam, of course, did some time as well, but he’s been out nearly two years now and scouring once again for a biotech bargain. And he believes he has found one in Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals. A few months after raising a reported $50 million or so from investors to form Kadmon Pharmaceuticals (see this), Sam’s Kadmon has announced that it acquired the privately held drugmaker, which specializes in hepatitis C treatments. “Kadmon is building a new paradigm for bringing pioneering medicines to market more rapidly and cost effectively. This includes the simultan... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4106057 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:30:23 +0100 4106057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999293&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVyEwh-7JadE%2F The nation’s medicine chest mayl be the moniker for the Garden State, but it’s no secret the pharmaceutical industry in New Jersey is shedding a tremendous number of jobs. And with ballooning deficits making it difficult for the state to offer any help, the cupboard is starting to look bare (see here). So the US Department of Labor is stepping in with a $3.6 million grant designed to assist 960 laid off workers. The grant will be administered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which wants to use the funds to leverage the out-of-work pharma talent to “create a world-class bioscience cluster” and keep those folks from moving elsewhere. As part of the plan, the state will provide workers with access to ‘dislocated worker services,&#8... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999293 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:37:46 +0100 3999293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490869&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FtY9j8ooYcD4%2F The move came earlier this week and involves roughly three dozen positions in safety surveillance, medical review and case management at ImClone Systems headquarters in Branchburg, New Jersey. The work will now be handled by Lilly, which owns ImClone Systems, and divided between Lilly safety teams in the US and the UK. Some employees may be offered transfers. Although ImClone has been run somewhat autonomously, a Lilly spokeswoman says the goal is to create a seemless and comprehensive patient safety organization that doesn’t distinguish between Lilly and its units. The spokeswoman adds that the cuts are part of a much broader reorganization announced last fall in which some 5,500 jobs will be eliminated by the end of 2011 as the drugmaker tries to cut $1 billion in expenses before i... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490869 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:51:18 +0100 3490869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3280194&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FHKZg6J3ABc8%2F Samuel Waksal, whose ImClone Systems stock tips landed him and Martha Stewart in federal prison, is getting back into biotech by trying to raise $50 million for a new privately held biopharma company, according to a fund-raising prospectus obtained by TheStreet. Kadmon I LLC, of which Waksal is managing member, would acquire, develop or license new drugs targeting cancer and infectious diseases. Kadmon is also in negotiations to acquire an unidentified drug company to use as its operational base, although binding agreements are not yet in place, according to the prospectus dated Feb. 3, TheStreet writes. Waksal and the others hope to sell a 50 percent stake in Kadmon to investors for $50 million, although the offering could be increased to $175 million if demand exists, according to the p... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3280194 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:25:15 +0100 3280194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513160&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpharmalot%2F%7E3%2FuIjujuLtkTM%2F Nothing like a drying pipeline to spur an acquisition, or an alliance, or a licensing deal. And there were certainly enough in 2008, given the dire straits confronting many large drugmakers. But which deal was truly clever, captivating and, most of all, potentially lucrative? What about the tie-up between Pfizer and Ranbaxy? Pfizer walked away with extra 20 months of Lipitor patent exclusivity and Ranbaxy got the right to sell generic versions in November 2011 in the US, and sell generics in some other countries. How about Lilly scooping up ImClone Systems? Or the Novartis diversification move to pay $11 billion for 25 percent of Alcon? Well, the In Vivo blog, which tracks such things closely all year long, is running a poll. So you can decide for yourselves right here. And no, only cons... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513160 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:55:59 +0100 2513160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2035943&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F483040604%2F Drugmakers may be forced to change prescribing info on cancer meds already being sold in the US to advise patients that some treatments won’t work in people who carry certain genes, Bloomberg News writes. Prescribing drugs on the basis of genetic profiles can limit use of medicines to patients who will benefit most and increase their safe use, FDA staffers wrote in briefing materials for an advisory committee meeting on December 16. The change may also hinder sales of drugs that previously might have been given to more people, just on the chance they may work. The meeting is being held to discuss whether to recommend that doctors screen patients for the so-called KRAS gene mutation before prescribing Erbitux, which is marketed by Lilly and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Amgen’s Vectib... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2035943 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:07:51 +0100 2035943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2021726&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F478645039%2F The ink is barely dry on the acquisition papers, and already Lilly has directed its ImClone Systems unit to eliminate almost half of its sales reps. Lilly, you may recall, agreed two months ago to pay $6.5 billion for ImClone, which markets the Erbitux cancer med and figured in the Martha Stewart insider trading scandal, and beat out Bristol-Myers Squibb (back story). The drugmaker is not wasting any time in cutting costs. Late last week, nearly three dozen ImClone reps were told their services are no longer needed. A spokeswoman confirms the cuts and adds that further moves are planned. Here is what she wrote us… “About 30 of the nearly 70 roles that made up the ImClone sales force were eliminated. This takes the overall size of the sales force back to a mid-2007 sales model t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2021726 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:22:14 +0100 2021726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1961224&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F452971264%2F Somehow, we forgot to hit the send button earlier. So our usual morning greeting is appearing a bit out of sync. Apologies, everyone. As we wrote… And so the end of the week is upon us. What will you be doing this weekend? Taking in a movie? Throwing a football around? Puttering around the mansion? Our choice - raking leaves, which is good exercise, after all. Whatever your pleasure, we hope you enjoy. Meanwhile, here are a few items to digest as you prepare… Lupin Plant Slammed By FDA Inspectors (The Economic Times) Four Drug Combo Helps With Lung Cancer (Reuters) Actavis Unit Sued By FDA (Bloomberg News) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1961224 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:20:12 +0100 1961224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1926686&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F437932856%2F Decisions, decisions. What will you be this Halloween? A sales rep? A cardiologist? A brand manager? Maybe a cost-cutting consultant? How about a compliance officer? Whatever your fancy, here are a few items to peruse while you mull this over… Erbitux Gets Priority FDA Review For Broader Use (The Wall Street Journal) AstraZeneca Posts Strong Sales Gain (The Financial Times) Sanofi Raises Guidance While Profits Rise Slightly (Yahoo/Reuters) Novo Nordisk May Spend $2 Billion On Acquisitions (Bloomberg News) Biogen & Genentech Develop Blood Cancer Drug (Reuters) Mylan Profit Jumps On Blood Pressure Drug (Bloomberg News) Vanda Pharmaceuticals Halts Development (Washington Business Journal) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1926686 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:10:52 +0100 1926686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1915069&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F433651078%2F A pension plan has filed a legal challenge in an effort to stop Lilly from buying ImClone Systems, because the $6.5 billion deal is unfair to ImClone stockholders. The deal “is the result of a hopelessly flawed process,” the State-Boston Retirement System of Massachusetts contends in its lawsuit, according to Reuters. The pension plan, and several other individual ImClone shareholders, want to stop the merger until more info is presented to stockholders. They accused ImClone’s board of directors, including billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who is the biotech’s board, of breaching their fiduciary duties in agreeing to the October 6 deal. Lilly was also named as a defendant. The lawsuit, filed October 22 in New York State Supreme Court, accuses ImClone of blocking alte... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1915069 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:01:04 +0100 1915069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883571&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F421456942%2F So is Lilly’s $6.5 billion deal to buy ImClone Systems too risky? The acquisition will drain billions in cash and force the drugmaker to take on billions more in debt during a worldwide credit crisis. Lilly’s stock fell 24 percent over five days after the announcement, The Indianapolis Star notes. But John Lechleiter brushes off criticism that the move is too risky. “This is what we do every day,” he tells the paper. “We place risky bets on our pipeline. This is what our shareholders expect us to do.” A bigger risk, he argues, would be to do nothing and watch Lilly’s patents begin to expire on blockbuster products, such as Zyprexa and Cymbalta, and say goodbye to their billions in annual revenue. The ImClone deal, Lechleiter continues, is part of a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883571 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:49:19 +0100 1883571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859776&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F412713688%2F After weeks of drama, a deal is finally done. Lilly will pay $70 a share, well above the $62 offered by Bristol-Myers Squibb. In doing so, Lilly gets access to the Erbitux cancer treatment and other cancer meds being developed. Plagued by expiring patents on other big sellers, drugmakers are increasingly looking to oncology as a lifeline. “This transaction will broaden our portfolio of marketed cancer therapies and boost Lilly’s oncology pipeline with up to three promising targeted therapies in Phase III in 2009,” Lilly ceo John Lechleiter says in a statement. “By bringing together ImClone’s and Lilly’s marketed oncology products, pipelines, and biotech capabilities, we are taking a very important step forward in addressing the challenges of patent expir... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859776 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:25:15 +0100 1859776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1853587&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=34768&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmagossip.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Flilly-beat-bms-to-imclone.html ImClone has agreed to be acquired by Eli Lilly for about $6.1 billion, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the situation.More (Source: PharmaGossip) PharmaGossip blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1853587 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:19:00 +0100 1853587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845072&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F408777535%2F Never mind reports earlier today that Eli Lilly - not Pfizer - is the mystery suitor willing to outbid Bristol-Myers Squibb. Carl Icahn, the biotech’s hard-nosed chairman, just issued a brief statement saying the proposal is going forward, but wouldn’t say anything about the identity of the suitor. Notably, he didn’t deny it was Lilly. And Lilly reportedly did not deny its interest in ImClone. Anyway… “Carl Icahn, Chairman of the Board of ImClone Systems Incorporated, stated that the large Pharma company has completed due diligence and made a proposal not subject to financing or further due diligence. Negotiations between the parties are underway and the large Pharma company has requested that ImClone not divulge its name until negotiations are completed.&#822... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845072 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:33:20 +0100 1845072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1834804&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F404052694%2F What better time to take a break than on a Friday afternoon? So go ahead, take a stroll around the grounds. Grab a cup of coffee. Annoy the person in the office to next to yours. And, of course, catch up on some news of the world before getting back to business… Glaxo’s Advair To Lose Sales To Spiriva (Yahoo/Reuters) Germany’s Merck Starts Arbitration Against ImClone (Reuters) Savient Pharma Remains Silent On Buyout Partner (Reuters) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1834804 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:32:43 +0100 1834804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1834809&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F403751762%2F The corporate raider, who is angling to sell a 13 percent stake in Imclone Systems for more than $800 million, is piling up bets in the biotechnology industry, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News. Icahn and hedge funds he manages have accumulated stakes in at least 10 biotechs that comprise a fifth of their total publicly reported holdings, excluding shares of Icahn Enterprises LP. Icahn, 72, and the funds have about $1.3 billion invested in biotech, four times as much as two years ago, and increased those bets by $320 million in the last two months alone, according to Bloomberg. “He’s trying to identify companies that he thinks major pharmaceutical companies’ managements might be attracted to, and he’s trying to stir up that attraction,” Tim Ghrisk... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1834809 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:27:16 +0100 1834809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826209&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F401088559%2F You gotta love this letter. The emotions are raw. The sarcasm is ripe. The invective is bubbling beneath the surface. What better antidote to a failing financial system than an old-fashioned hostile bid involving a corporate raider with an ego larger than Manhattan and a staid drugmaker struggling to remain relevant? Here it is, folks. Carl Icahn’s love letter to Bristol ceo Jim Cornelius, who only last night did an about face and raised his offer for ImClone to $62 a share - after promising he wouldn’t do so - and vowing to eject the ImClone board. Carl is having none of it - and accuses Jim of finding new ways to make Bristol’s team of lawyers wealthier while doing a poor job of raising his own profile. Enjoy… September 23, 2008 Mr. James M. Cornelius Chairman and... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826209 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:41:58 +0100 1826209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1802937&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F394197646%2F Now who’s playing chicken? The amusing exchange of letters last week between ImClone chair Carl Icahn and Bristol-Myers ceo Jim Cornelius (here and here) was all about maneuvering as they attempted to find the best deal. Icahn, you may recall, found a mystery suitor willing to pay $70 a share, rejecting Jim’s $60 offer and his insistence that Bristol holds rights to a follow-up to the Erbitux cancer drug. Now, Bristol’s cfo, Jean-Marc Huet told a Merrill Lynch pharma conference in London that the drugmaker may walk away from its offer. “There are situations in which we are willing to walk away,” Huet told the crowd, according to Dow Jones. While ImClone may make a “very nice bolt-on acquisition…you should never fall in love with an asset.” So... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1802937 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:27:36 +0100 1802937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1790488&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F390593183%2F The posturing and sniping that occurs during a hostile bid is so interesting, is it not? Yesterday, Bristol-Myers Squibb ceo Jim Cornelius yesterday fired off a letter to ImClone Systems chairman Carl Icahn (pictured left) to say his $60-a-share bid is firm and to chastise him for disclosing a mysterious suitor is lurking and may pay $70 a share. Last night, Icahn released a response upbraiding Cornelius (see below). A few important details can help with the context - Bristol already owns 16 percent of ImClone; Bristol and ImClone jointly market the Erbitux cancer treatment, and ImClone disputes Bristol’s rights to a follow-up med. September 11, 2008 Mr. James M. Cornelius Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 345 Park Avenue New York, NY 10154 Dear Jim:... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1790488 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:28:11 +0100 1790488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1785903&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=34768&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmagossip.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fare-astrazeneca-mystery-bidder-for.html You tell me. (Source: PharmaGossip) PharmaGossip blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1785903 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:50:00 +0100 1785903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1788918&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F389810862%2F The letter below is rather self-explanatory. Bristol ceo Jim Cornelius (pictured below left) isn’t pleased with Carl Icahn’s mysterious maneuvering to extract a higher price than $60 a share from the big drugmaker for ImClone Systems. Jim reminds Carl (pictured below right) that the “preliminary proposal” from the mystery suitor requires due dilingence, unlike the Bristol offer. And he reasserts Bristol’s claims to long-term US marketing rights for ImClone’s cash cow, the Erbitux cancer treatment and its follow-up compound. Remember, Bristol already owns 16 percent of ImClone. Perhaps this dance is a prelude to something larger involving yet another player? Board of Directors ImClone Systems Incorporated 180 Varick Street New York, NY 10014 Care of Mr. ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1788918 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:50:59 +0100 1788918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1786182&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F388683767%2F The drugmaker calls the $60-a-share bid by Bristol-Myers Squibb ‘inadequate,’ and goes on to say in a statement this morning that famed corporate raider Carl Icahn, who chairs ImClone’s board, has had ’several conversations with the ceo of a large pharmaceutical company,’ which was not named. The statement continues that ‘as a result of such conversations, the pharmaceutical company has submitted a proposal, subject to due diligence, but not subject to financing, to acquire ImClone for $70 per share in cash. “The special committee has determined, subject to the execution of a confidentiality agreement, to allow this company to conduct due diligence for a two week period, subject to extension by mutual consent. No determination has been made as to w... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1786182 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:44:13 +0100 1786182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764222&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F382560553%2F Every so often, we like to bring you a few tidbits that are worth noting, if only briefly. This is especially true at lunch hour or during the time of day when a cat nap beckons. Rather than doze off, staying informed is a much better use of time, yes? So, here you go… Hershey Adds Former Pfizer CFO Shedlarz To Its Board (Yahoo/AP) Forest Labs Stock Sinks On Trial Results (Yahoo/AP) ImClone Seeks FDA Ok To Market Erbitux For Head, Neck Cancers (Yahoo/Reuters) OraSure AIDS Test Has High Error Rate (Bloomberg News) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764222 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:44:06 +0100 1764222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1720557&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F369928827%2F Do you recognize the man in the photo? Why, it’s none other than Sam Waksal, who became infamous for tipping off Martha Stewart when shares in ImClone Systems, the drugmaker that he founded, were about to take a dive back in 2001. A photographer for The New York Post took this shot of Waksal entering his Bronx, New York, halfway house, where he arrived only last week after serving five years in prison. And apparently, he’s getting VIP treatment - he was given a weekend furlough and looks like he went shopping. He’s holding bags from Smythson, a luxury leather shop in midtown Manhattan. “They blocked off the whole reception area just for him,” a source tells the Post, adding that most inmates wait hours to be processed. “Then the director told everyone e... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1720557 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:16:09 +0100 1720557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1711849&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F368035997%2F And so, as promised, we have returned. We trust you had a pleasant and productive week while we were away. And we want to say thanks for the nice send-off notes so many of you posted. Much appreciated. As always, though, the time has now come to reach for that favored cup of stimulation as we recap a few of the more interesting events of the past several days… Despite last-minute huffing and puffing from drugmakers and biotechs, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law one of the nation’s strictest limits on gifts given to doctors and other medical professionals by sales reps, the most contentious measure contained in a broad package intended to improve healthcare safety and curb skyrocketing costs. Read more here and here. Which course should Bristol-Myers Squibb p... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1711849 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:55:17 +0100 1711849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1679625&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F355415368%2F Carl Icahn is showing his fangs. In a statement, ImClone’s chairman says Bristol-Myers Squibb’s $4.5 billion offer is way too low. He then maintains the bid was motivated, in part, because ImClone is developing a drug that may compete with Erbitux, the cancer med the two drugmakers jointly market. But Bristol may not have rights to this new drug. Bristol, you may recall, already owns 17 percent of ImClone. Here’s the fun part: Carl, essentially, accuses Bristol ceo Jim Cornelius of trying to pull a fast one. The statement says that Icahn “was disturbed that one of the directors on the ImClone Board, who is the Bristol-Myers designee, was privy to the information discussed at previous meetings concerning the potential separation of ImClone into two separate component... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1679625 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:20:36 +0100 1679625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1675139&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F352692430%2F That’s the speculation now that Roche has made an offer for the chunk of Genentech not under its control and Bristol-Myers Squibb is trying the same thing with ImClone Systems. So now the betting is that Lilly would bid for Amylin, its partner for the Byetta diabetes drug and a long-acting release version that is being developd. “While two large pharma companies have now moved to acquire their commercial partners (in which they already held shares), it is now reasonable to wonder whether there will be a rash of such deals, and who will be next,” Deutsche Bank analyst Barbara Ryan writes in an investor note. “While it is certainly possible and plausible that Lilly would buy Amylin…our assessment is that it is unlikely to be a near-term event, if it were to happ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1675139 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:04:42 +0100 1675139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1671774&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F352019905%2F Now, that the drugmaker is offering to buy ImClone Systems, does this make it more likely another drugmaker would want to buy Bristol-Myers? One analyst, Sanford Bernstein’s Tim Anderson believes the answer is, drumroll, yes. In an investor note this afternoon, he writes that scooping up ImClone makes Bristol-Myers more “sellable,” because it would be “a more robust cancer company.” Why? Besides full rights to the Erbitux cancer med, ImClone also has a pipeline of five monoclonal antibodies that are in Phase I or Phase II development. Meanwhile, Bristol has been selling off businesses, such as ConvaTec, which heightens its appeal as a pure pharma play. And of course, Bristol has been throwing thousands of employees overboard - about 4,300 jobs are going with a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1671774 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:06:34 +0100 1671774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652563&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F344533233%2F A rainy day here in the nation’s medicine chest. We are spending our morning waiting for a long overdue check-up of the official Pharmalot limo to wrap up. We hope the start of your day is more pleasant. So grab a cup of stimulation or a bottle of water, if you prefer, and catch up with these… Waiting On Wyeth’s Alzheimer’s Drug (Bloomberg News) Bristol-Myers Profit Jumps; More Cuts Planned (press release) Lilly’s Profit Rise Is Helped By Taxes (Yahoo/Reuters) Genetic Test May Predict Statin Risk (Bloomberg News) Medco Health Profit Beats Estimates (Yahoo/Reuters) ImClone Profit Falls On Higher Costs (Yahoo/Reuters) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652563 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:10:04 +0100 1652563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1637996&cid=t_111613_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F339122109%2F ImClone Systems, Inc.’s advanced colorectal cancer drug has now received regulatory approval in Japan. ERBITUX(R) (cetuximab) has received marketing authorization in Japan for use in treating patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Specifically, this approval allows for the use of ERBITUX to treat patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive, curatively unresectable (inoperable), advanced or recurrent CRC, and allows the use of ERBITUX plus irinotecan in second and further lines of mCRC. With this approval, ERBITUX is the first ever EGFR-targeted monoclonal antibody to be submitted for and receive marketing authorization in Japan. ERBITUX (cetuximab) is a monoclonal antibody (IgG1 Mab) designed to inhibit the function of a molecular structure ... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1637996 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:00:28 +0100 1637996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1500289&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F306038610%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? Pfizer hired Charles Triano as senior vp, investor relations; Haemacure added Reinaldo Diaz to its board; InVentiv named Blane Walter as ceo; Alexza Pharma hired Anthony Clarke as vp, international development; Amazon Biotech named Michael Silver as scientific director; Biogen Idec named Hans Peter Hasler its new coo; Covidien named Chuck Bramlage pre... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1500289 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:26:44 +0100 1500289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488705&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F302917225%2F For drugmakers developing cancer meds, the future may be here - new genetic research on display at the ASCO meeting may help identify drugs most likely to work in particular people, but also sharply reduce the market for certain meds, The Wall Street Journal notes. This marks an important shift in cancer treatment and in attitudes of drugmakers and biotechs toward personalized medicine. Companies are beginning to accept a smaller market for some meds in return for a better chance that those who use them will have a good result, the paper writes. The focus of attention at ASCO is a gene called K-ras, which regulates cell growth and plays a crucial role in several cancers. A study indicated about 36 percent of patients with advanced colon cancer have a mutated form of the gene that assures t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488705 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:36:29 +0100 1488705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1482289&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F302184559%2F A clinical trial of 1,125 lung cancer patients who were treated with ImClone Systems’s Erbitux and chemo lived about five weeks longer than patients treated with chemo alone, according to a study released at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. Here is the abstract. The results could make Erbitux, which is currently approved for colon tumors and head and neck cancer, the preferred therapy for half of non-small cell lung cancer patients who can’t take Genentech’s Avastin due to side effects. Patients getting Erbitux plus standard chemo had a median survival of 11.3 months, compared with 10.1 months for those given only chemo. In all, 36.3 percent responded to the combo, compared with 29.2 percent who improved after getting only chemo. Erbitux increased survi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1482289 Sat, 31 May 2008 15:58:57 +0100 1482289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1482545&cid=t_111613_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F301841391%2F ERBITUX® (Cetuximab) - product of Merck KGaA and ImClone Systems Inc. - has received EU backing as first-line treatment for colon cancer. According to the European Medicines Agency: Erbitux can be given as the first drug in colon-cancer treatment in patients who carry an unmutated kras gene, restricting its use to about 65 percent of patients. Erbitux is the first monoclonal antibody approved by the US FDA for the treatment of advanced colon cancer that has spread to the other parts of the body — either alone or in combination with other treatments. Read more about the EU backing on Erbitux from Bloomberg. Tags: colon-cancer, EMEA, ERBITUX® (Cetuximab), ImClone Systems Inc., MErck KGaAShare This (Source: Cancer Commentary) Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1482545 Sat, 31 May 2008 12:53:29 +0100 1482545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1478214&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F300773805%2F Potential advances in the treatment of lung cancer will be a major focus as the American Society of Clinical Oncology gets under way in Chicago on Friday. In particular, ImClone Systems will unveil long-awaited results from a pivotal trial of its Erbitux drug, in combination with chemotherapy, in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer, Reuters writes. The drugmaker has already said its Flex study met its main goal of boosting survival, but what is not clear is how much longer patients were shown to live. “The Flex study will be one of the most important presentations at ASCO,” Roy Herbst, chief of thoracic oncology at Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center, tells Reuters. “Lung cancer doctors and patients would like to know more details.” The Chicago m... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1478214 Thu, 29 May 2008 20:28:10 +0100 1478214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1300632&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F250706099%2F Remember what the morning mayor used to say: Every brand new day should be unwrapped like a precious gift. So what if a meeting or deadline has you vexed? That bigger picture counts. So grab your cup of stimulation or bottle of water - even if the Associated Press found that it, too, is loaded with your favorite medicines - and get caught up with us… ImClone Systems and Bristol-Myers Squibb may test some US cancer patients for a tick-bite antibody that can cause severe allergic reactions with Erbitux, according to a study. Researchers found an antibody in some patients, particularly in southeastern states, that reacts against a sugar in Erbitux to make them allergic to the treatment. The antibody probably comes from being bitten by ticks, study senior author Thomas Platts-Mills tells... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1300632 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:28:06 +0100 1300632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1297935&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F250174672%2F We need an extra cup of stimulation this morning. We were so busy posting a gaggle of interesting items that we neglected to include our usually start-of-the-day greeting - it was queued up, but we never hit the send button. So sorry. Now, though, we believe we are on track, and we hope that you feel the same. To help you along, here are a few developments that caught our attention over the past few hours… Memory Cuts Workforce By 20 Percent (Press Release) AstraZeneca Faces August Trial For Seroquel Patent Dispute (Bloomberg News) ImClone Offered $32M In Rebates (The Star-Ledger of New Jersey) Daiichi-Sankyo Fails To Win FDA Approval For Anemia Med (Bloomberg News) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1297935 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:10:13 +0100 1297935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1186090&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F225203548%2F Rise and shine. Another day, another deadline, or another bunch of meetings, or another project to complete. It’s always something. So to help you along, we’ve gathered a few items. Grab the coffee or the tea and catch up. Have a good one… A Nigerian court adjourned legal proceedings against Pfizer, Agence France-Presse reports. A criminal case was adjourned a criminal case until Feb. 4 due to the absence of the judge and three of Pfizer’s Nigerian employees, who were summoned by the the court, were also absent at the hearing. Las month, the court had issued arrest warrants for them for ignoring earlier summons. Separately, the Kano state high court on Monday adjourned the civil case against Pfizer to March 3 when the prosecution and the defence would be expected to... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1186090 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:38:24 +0100 1186090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1134006&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F212760016%2F A balmy and pleasant afternoon, especially for early January. We can tell because we have the window open here at the Pharmalot corporate campus. In fact, we were able to reach out and reel these in…. Alnylam Stock Rises On Word Of Deals Planned (Yahoo/Reuters) France Seizes Phony Impotence Pills (Yahoo/Reuters) ImClone Bets It All On Erbitux (CNNMoney.com) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1134006 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:45:22 +0100 1134006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=977432&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F174822466%2F A rainy morning here in the nation’s medicine chest. Even so, there are always rays of sunshine emanating from the news. So grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the warmth… Europe Opens Its Doors To Cheaper Biogenerics (The Chicago Tribune) ImClone Profits Fall On Charge (Yahoo/AP) Celgene Earnings Rise On Higher Sales (Yahoo/Reuters) And here are a couple of interesting tales you may have missed…. The indefatigable Amgen ceo, Kevin Sharer, who doesn’t know a crisis when he sees one, hopes that a new drug, denosumab, could become a “double blockbuster,” both as a twice-a-year treatment for osteoporosis and as a remedy for cancers of the bone. And so Forbes writes that for denosumab to succeed, Amgen will have to battle with Novartis and its once-a-year ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=977432 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:40:35 +0100 977432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=923808&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F164662656%2F Our hacking cough persists this morning, but Mrs. Pharmalot was kind enough to supply us with hot tea. And so we are revived just long enough to bring a few new items for your enjoyment… Doctors’ Groups Release Parents’ Guide To ADHD Drugs (Scientific American/Reuters) Lilly’s CEO Calls For Greater Sharing Of Electronic Records (CNNMoney/AP) ImClone And Bristol Update Erbitux Label (Yahoo/AP) Roche Slashes Price Of Tarceva Cancer Drug In The UK (The Financial Times) AstraZeneca Expands Giveway Program (The Delaware News-Journal) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=923808 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:20:25 +0100 923808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=864406&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F155183897%2F ImClose stock rocketed skyward today on the news that Erbitux, which is currently approved to treat cancer in the colon, head and neck, extended survival in patients with small-cell lung cancer. The stock moved because the results were unexpected. At the same time, though, the full story isn’t really known, because full details weren’t released, so it’s not completely clear how much longer patients lived. Here are a couple of interpretations…. “The purpose of the trial was to investigate the efficacy of Erbitux in combination with chemotherapy in comparison to chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer who had not received prior chemotherapy. In our opinion, this news is clearly positive; however we will reserve judgment until we s... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=864406 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 20:25:32 +0100 864406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=862235&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F155010894%2F Yes, indeed, time for another day. And so here are a few items to help you get caught up. And please do take our latest poll in which we ask whether medical journals should disclose all variety of financial ties to drugmakers (click here or scroll down). Roche Sues Teva Over Boniva Osteoporosis Drug (Yahoo/AP) Sepracor Signs Glaxo To Market Lunesta Outside US And Japan (Yahoo/AP) Arena To Continue Studies For Obesity Pill (Yahoo/Reuters) Patent Reform Moves To US Senate (eWeek.com) Erbitux Improves Survival In Lung-Cancer Patients; Merck Shares Jump (Bloomberg News) Swedish Politician Defends Thailand In Compulsory Licensing Dispute (ScandAsia.com) Novartis’ Sandoz To Launch Generic EPO In Europe Next Month (MSNBC.com) Palatin’s Plan For Sexual Dysfunction Drug Goes Limp (The S... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=862235 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:23:44 +0100 862235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=858563&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F154663647%2F A busy Monday with much to follow. Here are a few of the latest items…. Stada Shares Climb On Wyeth Speculation (Yahoo/Reuters) Bayer’s Trasylol Raises Kidney Risks, FDA Reviewers Say (Bloomberg News) ImClone Settles Patent Case With Repligen And MIT (Yahoo/AP) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=858563 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:09:27 +0100 858563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=819668&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F147703947%2F And so for the first time since Pharmalot began earlier this year, we are taking an official vacation break. What does this mean? The usual flow of news, views and chattiness will be suspended until after Labor Day. Generally, this is a slow time of year, and we all need a respite now and then. You understand. However, we will be checking e-mail, of course, and prepare items of interest for our return. Have something interesting for us to see? Send it along. On that note, we look forward to seeing you again and resuming our correspondence. Until then, we leave you with these. Catch a wave, everyone…. Europe Places New Restrictions On Novartis’ Prexige (PharmaTimes) Roche’s Avastin Approved For NSCLC In European Union (PharmaTimes) Merck Lawyer Objects To Petition For New ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=819668 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:59:27 +0100 819668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=814344&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F146563819%2F And no one knows why. The med - which is used to treat colon cancer and head and neck tumors - is being studied for treating ovarian, lung, breast and gastrointestinal tumors at various sites in the Southeast US. And that’s where researchers noticed an unusually high rate of allergic reaction in cancer patients, according to the Journal of Clinical Oncology (subscription required). When Erbitux was first approved, the first three patients treated as part of a study conducted at the University of North Carolina had severe reactions to the drug. Docs at two sites in Nashville also had more patients than expected react with a drop in blood pressure and shortness of breath or other hypersensitivity reactions within minutes of infusion, according to a UNC statement. The patients were clus... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=814344 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:08:27 +0100 814344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=791518&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F142575331%2F And so another busy day has ended. We apologize for the disruption service this evening, due to an appointment in the big city. However, we have returned to our usual routine and, in fact, hope to have a couple of interesting items tomorrow morning. We do not wish to tease, but one has to do with Vioxx and another concerns Provenge. Until the morning, there are these… ImClone Hires Former J&J Exec As CEO (Yahoo/Reuters) Alnylam Pharma Posts Wider Loss (TheStreet.com) Genzyme Settles Class-Action Lawsuit For $64 Million (Yahoo/AP) Biogen Names New CFO (Yahoo/Reuters) Mannkind Plans New Financing (TheStreet.com) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=791518 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:14:28 +0100 791518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=770841&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F139229996%2F The big news from Johnson & Johnson occupied us for awhile, but now is a good time to catch up a bit on other developments. Here are a few that may go well with the stop at the water cooler or the cup of coffee you plan to have… Celator Pharmaceuticals, a privately held biotech in Princeton, NJ, is exploring ways of combining drugs. In a chat with The Star-Ledger of New Jersey, the little company talks about its technology for determining the exact ratio at which combos perform at their peak. Its lead product, an early-stage colorectal cancer treatment, uses two previously approved cancer drugs in a formulation that ensures an optimum ratio is maintained. “That’s what I think separates us from everybody else,” boasts Andrew Janoff, Celator’s ceo and a co-... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=770841 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:29:57 +0100 770841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=764509&cid=t_111613_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F138268932%2F Leave it to Carl Icahn to get things done. At the behest of the new ImClone chairman, the two drugmakers are expanding their existing investment in the Erbitux cancer med by up “several hundred million dollars,” and plan to add “numerous” clinical trials to find new uses for the drug, according to a statement. The new studies will test Erbitux in tumors found in the brain, bladder, breast, lung, pancreas and prostate. ImClone shares had gained 70 percent this year as of May 9 on optimism the company would find more uses for Erbitux, which had sales of $1.1 billion last year, Bloomberg News notes. ImClone has been going through convulsions over the past year. Last October, Carl Icahn - the famed corporate raider - took control and ousted the board and management in ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=764509 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:50:04 +0100 764509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=539095&cid=t_111613_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F12%2Ferbitux-fails-in-pancreatic-cancer-trials%2F Filed under: Drug, Pancreatic Cancer, Research, Daily newsImClone Systems Inc.'s drug Erbitux has failed to help pancreatic cancer patients live longer. It's also failed to grow ImClone's market -- not surprising since it's the company's only drug.Imclone, partnering with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., wanted to see Erbitux -- already cleared for use with colon, head, and neck cancers -- extend the lives of patients with cancer marked by a spread to the pancreas.No one is giving up just yet, and Imclone plans additional tests on Erbitux's use in pancreatic cancer. A study using a combination of Erbitux and Avastin and chemotherapy is up next. "There are reasons to think Erbitux works in pancreatic cancer, but the current results are not as dramatic as we hoped," said Alex Denner, lead for an ex... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=539095 Thu, 12 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 539095