The unexpected early retirement of Pfizer’s chief executive and chairman, Jeffrey Kindler, drew various comments in the press with most commentators blaming his departure on the intense pressure that comes from running the world’s largest pharmaceutical company at a time when competition from generic pharmaceuticals is intensifying.
Sanofi Pasteur is withdrawing its marketing authorisation application for Emerflu, a vaccine intended for prophylaxis of influenza in the event of a pandemic involving the influenza A virus subtype, H5N1, the European Medicines Agency said.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge and Edinburgh University have reported identifying several genes which appear to be active in the natural repair of myelin, the protective sheath around nerve cells which is damaged in multiple sclerosis.
Scientists at Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts have reported being able to promote optic nerve regeneration in an animal by activating two molecular pathways synergistically. Separately, the pathways have a less pronounced effect.
SkyePharma Plc has updated investors on the company’s financial outlook as preparations continue for a potential launch of its asthma product, Flutiform. Revenues in 2010 are expected to show a modest increase from a year earlier.
ThromboGenics NV of Belgium has succeeded in raising €56 million through a private placement of its shares, well above the targeted amount of €35 million. A total of 2,944,523 new shares were placed with domestic and international investors.
Medivir AB of Sweden, which is a research-based speciality pharmaceutical company, has raised SEK 280 million (€30.8 million) in a private placement of its shares, more than two thirds of which were placed with institutional investors.
ThromboGenics NV of Belgium has launched a private placement of new ordinary shares with the goal of raising €35 million to support its lead product for retinal disease and other corporate purposes.
Merck & Co has announced plans to acquire a private US company that has developed a new insulin formulation for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The transaction is valued at in excess of $500 million assuming milestones are met.
A US Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has voted not to recommend an expanded indication for the prostate cancer drug, dutasteride. The sponsor, GlaxoSmithKline, is seeking to have it approved for prostate cancer risk reduction.