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Roche faces obstacles in acquiring Genentech

28-Jul-2008 - Roche’s proposed $44bn acquisition of Genentech is facing some opposition with Wall Street saying the offer undervalues the company, disquiet among the biotech’s employees and shareholders suing the Swiss giant.

FDA evolves application process

15-Jul-2008 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is continuing to evolve in the face of current challenges through the launch of two new initiatives.

US Senator seeks probe into pharma outsourcing

16-Jun-2008 - A US senator has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a probe into outsourcing of production for pharmaceuticals, as well as ways to make drugmakers accountable for products which fail to meet quality standards.

Big pharma responds to EU anti-counterfeiting

09-Jun-2008 - Big pharma's responses to the European Commission's proposals for tackling counterfeiting have thrown up a diverse range of viewpoints.

Pharma must adapt to emerging markets

19-May-2008 - Pharmaceutical companies are having to radically change their practices when it comes to tackling emerging markets such as China, India, Russia and Brazil, according to IMS.

Japan's contract manufacturing awakening

13-May-2008 - 2005 marked the real beginning of contract manufacturing in Japan, which had been held back by an overly-cautious regulatory environment and significant and unique quality and specification demands in the marketplace.

Warding off the generic attack

07-Jan-2008 - A recent report has detailed the challenges facing the pharma industry as the generic flood gates open, with the constant advice to start planning early still apparently not heeded by a bewildering number of firms.

Paediatric drugs and testing highlighted

26-Nov-2007 - The importance of paediatric drug formulations and clinical trials in children was highlighted at this month's American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) conference in San Diego.

South Africa 'underutilised' for clinical trials

20-Nov-2007 - While India, the Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe and Latin America are all gaining recognition as potential new hot spots, South Africa remains 'underutilised as a clinical trial destination,' according to a prominent industry figure.

FDA failure on foreign inspections frightening

05-Nov-2007 - A US government audit has confirmed the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) continual lack of inspection of foreign drug manufacturing plants.

Pharma must 'reinvent' itself to survive

02-Nov-2007 - With IMS Health's annual forecast for the pharma industry predicting slower approvals, more black box warnings and the continuation of the 'wave of genericization,' the shift by pharma firms to refocus and reinvent themselves will need to move on apace in order to secure their position in a changing market.

Pfizer partners in shock after surprise Exubera exit

22-Oct-2007 - We've all cringed at stories of people dumping their partners via text message but in the world of business, Pfizer seems to have taken things to a new level when its Exubera partners were allegedly left to find out the product was being scrapped through a press release.

'We are not anti-Asia' says EU chemicals body

09-Oct-2007 - There have been more calls this month to tighten regulations on pharmaceutical ingredient suppliers in the wake of the recent safety concerns emanating from low-cost regions such as China and India. However, despite having recently established a dedicated 'China Taskforce', a major EU chemicals consortium insists that it has nothing against the region or its manufacturers.