Wockhardt

ALSO NOTED: Wockhardt gets OK for Zithromax copy; Depomed's gabapentin formula passes Phase II;

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:59:50 -0500

> Wockhardt got the FDA nod to sell a copycat form of Pfizer's Zithromax, an antibiotic. Report

> Depomed announced that its in-development extended release form of gabapentin showed efficacy against menopausal hot flashes in a Phase II trial. Report

> Nektar Therapeutics' COO Dr. Hoyoung Huh stepped down to take a CEO job at BiPar Sciences; separately, the company said it would cut 150 employees, or about 20 percent of its workforce. Release | Release

> A new study found that the epilepsy med Trileptal didn't prevent migraines; the drug and its ilk have been used against migraine for decades. Report

> An Alabama attorney asked a jury to award the state $40 million in compensatory damages in a fraud lawsuit against AstraZeneca, which alleges that the company inflated its prices. Report

> The FDA has told Adolor and GSK that it will take three more months to review Entereg, a anti-constipation drug candidate. Report

> Italy's Newron Pharmaceuticals has U.K.-based Hunter-Fleming, a company that's developing therapies for neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders. Report

> An article in the Indianapolis Star details Lilly's development program for MBP9289, a multiple sclerosis drug offering hope to both patients and a drug developer that hasn't launched a new drug for humans since 2005. Report

> Rumors are swirling that Sanofi-Aventis may be making a bid for Oxford BioMedica, a U.K.-based developer of gene-based medicines. Report

And Finally... Just in time for Valentine's Day, more good news about chocolate's health effects. Report

ALSO NOTED: Forest sues generics over Namenda; Omrix gets new indication for Evicel;

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:59:50 -0500

> Forest Labs and Merck KGaA are suing several generics makers--including Barr, Cobalt, Lupin, Orchid, Teva, and Wockhardt--for infringing patents on the Namenda treatment for Alzheimer's. Report

> Omrix Biopharmaceuticals got the FDA's blessing for a new use of its Evicel sealant product. Report

> FDA approvals may be down in the doldrums, but approvable letters flew out of the agency in 2007--at a rate 40 percent higher than in 2006. Report

> The FDA is postponing its review of an anti-constipation drug candidate developed by Progenics and Wyeth. Report

> UK investors are turning up their noses at biotech these days, but a few companies are poised for a comeback. Report

> Is Pfizer a good buy now that shares are going for just 10 times forecast earnings? Smart Money does the analysis. Report

> UK pharmacies are launching an online registration system to help curb online sales of fake and dangerous medicines. Report

> Noven Pharmaceuticals got an FDA warning of potential manufacturing deficiencies at its Miami plant; the problems related to Noven's Daytrana transdermal product. Report

And Finally... Next time you fight with your spouse over getting directions, you'll know to blame your brain. Report

ALSO NOTED: Barr challenges Sanofi patents on $1.1B drug; Wockhardt to launch copycat Zoloft;

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:59:50 -0500

> Barr Laboratories is challenging Sanofi-Aventis patents on Eloxatin, a colon-cancer drug that Barr wants to copy; Eloxatin posted $1.1 billion in U.S. sales for the 12 months ended in October. Report

> India's Wockhardt got the FDA's nod for its copycat version of Zoloft, or sertraline; the generics maker plans to launch the drug within the next few weeks. Report

> The FDA plans to meet later this month to consider Entereg, a potential constipation drug co-developed by GlaxoSmithKline and Adolor. Report

> Chinese pharma's production value has grown by 20 percent annually over the past decade, according to a new report, which also points out weaknesses in the industry there. Report

> Shares of Isis Pharmaceuticals rocketed up 45 percent after the biotech announced that Genzyme had signed on as a partner to develop the promising cardiovascular drug mipomersen, its flagship product. Report

> Sirtris grabbed some headlines at the JP Morgan gathering in San Francisco with its presentation of positive, early-stage data for its closely watched therapy based on resveratrol, an ingredient in red wine that has been linked to increased longevity. Report

> WuXi's buyout deal has raised questions about scientists' pay scale. Report

And Finally... Forego those french fries and pick up a peach! A new study shows healthy habits could add up to 14 years to your life. Report

ALSO NOTED: Sepracor chair to retire in May; Study shows Glaxo drug outpacing Pfizer's Spiriva;

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:59:50 -0500

> Sepracor chairman Timothy Barberich will retire by May, according to a disclosure filed with the Securities and Exchange commission; Barberich is the drug maker's former CEO. Report

> A GlaxoSmithKline-funded study showed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients using its asthma drug Seretide (Advair) were half as likely to die as those using Pfizer's Spiriva. Release

> Pfizer India sold several of its brands, including Listerine and Benadryl, to Johnson & Johnson for $55 million. Report

> Cephalon is asking the FDA to extend the use of its chemo drug Treanda to lymphatic cancer in patients who have stopped responding to Genentech's Rituxin. Release

> India-based Wockhardt got U.S. FDA approval to sell its copycat form of Zyrtec, the allergy med. Report

And Finally... Researchers have identified the reasons why fish oil protects people from Alzheimer's disease. Report

ALSO NOTED: GSK suing Abbott over HIV-drug price; Harvard genius joins MIT-Novartis effort;

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:59:50 -0500

> GlaxoSmithKline is joining a lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories over the jacked-up price of Norvir, and anti-HIV drug. Report

> A top Harvard chemist will join the MIT-Novartis Center for Continuous Manufacturing, a joint effort of the university and the Big Pharma company to develop new ways of making drugs. Report

> The FDA approved new labeling for the Bristol-Myers Squibb leukemia drug Sprycel; patients can now start on a lower dose of the drug, to help avert side effects. Report

> Indian pharma Wockhardt is considering a spin-off of its R&D operations, in the wake of similar moves by competitors. Report

> The FDA: Caught between a rock and a hard place. Report

And Finally... Athletes given placebo on competition day get a performance boost. Report

ALSO NOTED: Strong euro hitting Merck KGaA's revenue; U.S. sales boost Lupin's Q3 profits;

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 06:59:50 -0400

> German pharma Merck KGaA says a strong euro will depress its year-end sales; it reported a 74.9 percent drop in third-quarter profits on a one-time charge from its acquisition of Serono. Report

> Strong U.S. sales boosted Indian drug maker Lupin in the third quarter, lifting profits by 46 percent to $19 million; sales grew by 35 percent. Report

> Dr. Reddy's Laboratories grew revenues by 20 percent this quarter, but profits fell slightly to $67 million. Release

> Indian pharma Wockhardt did end up acquiring U.S.-based Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals as expected--but at $38 million, the price was lower than rumored. Report

> India's Dabur Pharma inked a deal with Spain-based Combino Pharm to sell generic cancer drugs in that country. Report

> With Biogen Idec on the market, reporters are delving into the possibilities for the company and the potential fallout in the Boston biotech cluster that the company calls home. Report

And Finally... Apparently, the White House didn't like what its CDC chief was planning to tell Congress about global warming's effect on health. Report

ALSO NOTED: Layoffs depress J&J profits; Canada OKs Pfizer HIV med;

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 06:59:50 -0400

> Pink slips cost money. Just ask Johnson & Johnson, which saw its third-quarter profits drop by 8 percent because of money spent cutting jobs. Release

> Health Canada gave the thumbs up to Pfizer's maraviroc, a first-in-class remedy that will be marketed there under the brand name Celsentri. Report

> Elan Pharmaceuticals, Biogen Idec's partner in the MS drug Tysabri, says it might buy the other half of that drug when Biogen changes hands. Report

> Some AIDS activists are upset that Merck priced its new HIV drug at $9,855 per year--not cheap, but not the $20,000 that Roche first asked for Fuzeon in 2004. Report

> Indian drug maker Wockhardt is planning to buy Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals for up to $70 million. Report

> Rules-Based Medicine, which is hot in pursuit of new biomarkers, has received a $25 million injection of cash. Report

> Dutch biotech Crucell has inked a joint venture deal with MedImmune to develop its bacterial antibodies to treat hospital-acquired infections. Report

> Schering-Plough: A good company to work for. Report

And Finally... Speaking of cancer drugs, we have them to thank for a swift drop in death rates from the disease. Report

Rumor Mill: Indian drug makers court Par

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 06:59:56 -0400

At least three Indian drug makers were spotted with chocolate and flowers at the headquarters of Par Pharmaceuticals, one of the top 10 generics companies in the U.S. Several Indian newspapers are reporting today that Ranbaxy Laboratories, Wockhardt, and Sun Pharma are all three courting the company. The three would-be suitors declined comment.

Curiously, Ranbaxy has already been in the gossip columns about a purported offer for Bradley Pharmaceuticals, which took non-binding bids several weeks ago. And Sun Pharma has agreed to pay $454 million for Taro Pharmaceutical, an Israeli-based generics maker. Is Par Pharma--with a market cap of $692 million--a back-up plan? Well, as they say, all's fair in love and business.

- read this report from India's Economic Times

Related Articles:
Par to restate earnings. Report
Rumor Mill: Dr. Reddy bids for Bradley. Report

SPOTLIGHT: Orion battles generic

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 06:59:52 -0400

Finnish drug maker Orion says it's suing Indian generics maker Wockhardt to keep the latter's version of the Parkinson's drug Comtan off the market. Report