News Articles

There is a good change in the appearance of the book. In the earlier editions the font size, quality of paper and printing was not up to the mark. However, there is significant improvement in this edition.

As we went to press, the country—and to some extent, the world—was reeling from US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's proposed $700 billion Wall Street bailout. In appealing for support, Paulson stressed this was a crisis.

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Asian Producers Raise Their Profiles In the Global Pharmaceutical Value Chain
May 2, 2006
By: Patricia Van Arnum
Pharmaceutical Technology

Indian and Chinese manufacturers are becoming a force in the global pharmaceutical supply chain by further penetrating Western generic drug markets, upping investments in manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and in formulations, and strengthening internal research and development.

"Indian companies are becoming leaders in capital investments in generics and are leading in drug master files (DMFs)," says Cynthia Dowd Greene, vice-president for industry research at Newport Strategies (Portland, ME, www.newportstrategies.com/), who recently spoke at the Generic Pharmaceutical Association's (GPhA, Arlington, VA, www.gphaonline.org/) API 2006 Meeting. In 2005, Indian companies filed 265 DMFs, up from 227 in 2004 and 139 in 2003, notes Greene.

According to a Harris poll conducted in early December for the Wall Street Journal Online, nearly half of US adults and more than 73 percent of US Vioxx users said they were closely following the story of the withdrawal of Vioxx. More than half of those who had taken Vioxx—or lived in a household where someone else did—said they took some action based on what they read. About 60 percent of those in households where Vioxx was used said they were somewhat or very concerned. (For additional results of the survey, see our Leading Indicators section.)

To me, those numbers look pretty encouraging. People understood that the Vioxx news identified a potential risk. They paid attention and took personal responsibility—just the way they're supposed to.

The market-driven system, which relies on patents and protected pricing to finance medical innovation, leaves treatment gaps in Europe and the developing world. So says a report commissioned by the Dutch government on behalf of the World Health Organization. The report, "Priority Medicines for Europe and the World," identifies 17 conditions for which treatment is inadequate or nonexistent, and it maps out strategies for filling the gaps, using government-funded research, public-private partnerships, and adjustments to the incentives offered to industry. (The full report is available online at mednet3.who.int.prioritymeds/.)

Many companies get caught up in discussions with their agencies about rich media, paid search, and scalable databases. Yet most pharma companies still haven't mastered one important fundamental—developing a site that speaks to their audience and gives users the information they seek.

This article discusses some basic tactics that will help companies develop more relevant sites. It examines the issues of fair balance, content, information architecture, usability, and design. These elements, when executed properly, draw consumers into a site and keep them there.

Sandra Holtzman

NuSil Technology is a leading formulator of silicone compounds for aerospace, healthcare, electronics, and other applications requiring precise, predictable, cost-effective materials performance. ISO-9001 certified since 1994, NuSil operates state-of-the-art laboratories and processing facilities in both North America and Europe and provides on-site, in-person application engineering support worldwide. Earlier this year, the company announced the acquisition of Rhodia Silicones’ long-term implantable silicones business. Long-term implantable silicones are used in medical device products implanted for 29-days or more. Drug Delivery Technology interviewed Richard A. Compton, NuSil’s President & Chief Executive Officer, on how this acquisition demonstrates NuSil’s continued commitment to the healthcare industry, further strengthening its leading position as the supplier of choice for medical device manufacturers worldwide.

PR is more than free ink. It is even more than good free ink. Having two editors with a public-relations background o­n Pharm Exec has boosted the height and depth of our in-house PR awareness. PR gives the magazine a new lens for viewing the industry that we cover and serve. It blends well with the evolution of marketing inside pharma companies, because it begins with the assumption that peoples' perceptions constitute a major portion of market reality.

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The Senate's failure to approve a Medicare pharmacy benefit in August was not a big surprise o­n Capitol Hill, but it was disappointing to policy makers o­n all sides. Instead, the legislators adopted measures designed to make pharmaceuticals more affordable for all consumers. The lead bill revises patent law in an effort to bring generic therapies to market more quickly. Key amendments would permit the import of cheaper medicines from Canada and also allow states to adopt new cost-cutting strategies as part of their efforts to expand state pharmacy benefit programs. Debate o­n those issues will continue this fall as Democrats push for the House to approve a similar generic reform measure and Republicans press for compromise o­n Medicare pharmacy coverage.

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Surprises may be good for birthday parties, but when it comes to pharma marketing, global companies with US headquarters need to know what to expect from European markets. Whether they face stiff competition for blockbuster products; are involved in acquisitions, mergers, or litigation; or are monitoring the European Commission's (EC) decision making process, global pharma marketers must be aware of negative buzz that might affect their global brands. Otherwise, cases such as the following can result:

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