Analysis of:
FDA Approves ROTARIX(R) Rotavirus Vaccine (www.pipelinereview.com)
Clinical trials have shown very similar efficacy and safety with both GSK's Rotarix and Merck's Rotateq. With only two doses needed for Rotarix, pediatricians may opt for a simpler schedule. Financial consideration will likely play the largest role in adopting the new vaccine.
Analysis of:
Venture Activity Hit by U.S. Slowdown (online.wsj.com)
As a partner @ a VC fund I see this trend impacting how potential portfolio companies are evaluated. Companies that will have a future acquisition, as an liquidity event, will have a higher probability of being funded. Investment decisons are also being influenced by the potential...
Analysis of:
Lilly Launches Its First Phase III Trial for Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (www.fiercebiotech.com)
Disease modification is the desired direction for drugs to treat Alzheimer's and gamma secretase inhibitors have really just begun to be studied. The field is very promising.
Analysis of:
Taranabant looks promising (www.taranabant-health.com)
Although the concept is exciting--an inverse agonist at the cannabinoid-1 (CB-1) receptor to reduce appetite, this medicine has a lot of bad press from rimonabant to overcome. The major problem with rimonabant was psychopathological reactions in patients. We do not yet know whether this...
Analysis of:
FDA Clears Glaxo Diarrhea - Virus Vaccine (www.nytimes.com)
-Glaxo's Rotarix vaccine was approved last week for prevention of rotavirus infection in infants -Merck's product, Rotateq, on the market for 2 years in the US, already has an established pipeline to essentially all pediatric primary care providers -There are small differences between the 2 vaccines,...
Analysis of:
Merck’s New Cholesterol Pill Has Mixed Results (www.pharmalot.com)
The potential side effect of liver damage of the new cholesterol agent from Merck will definitely slow or even halt the FDA approval of the medication.
Analysis of:
Merck, Schering Plunge as Doctors Discourage Vytorin (www.bloomberg.com)
Statins are the lipid lowering agents that decrease the incidence of heart attacks and stroke. The other lipide lowering agents, no matter how good the ads. and drug representatives tell you, is unclear
Analysis of:
FDA Investigating Possible Link Between Singulair and Suicide (www.foxnews.com)
-Reports of suicidality have been added to Mercks' PI for Singulair
-The media have begun to report on this in the past few days and patients are already making calls to their docs
-A la Vioxx, Singulair is poised to become the next whipping boy for every depressed asthmatic...
Analysis of:
Rx Watchdog Report: Trends in Manufacturer Prices of Brand Name Prescription Drugs Used by Medicare Beneficiaries—2002-2007 (www.aarp.org)
As the population age, more and more patients depend on medicare for their medical care. I do not know how they are going to afford the medication cost with bad economy and elevated drug price
Analysis of:
R&D Spending by U.S. Biopharmaceutical Companies Reaches Record $58.8 Billion in 2007 (www.pharmalive.com)
R & D investment from pharmaceuticals has been the main source of research in the development of new treatment