The smoking cessation market in the USA is worth $500 million every year. In Italy, IMS Health data reveal that in 2005, the year in which the Sirchia law came into force, 1.3 million units of anti-smoking drugs were sold for a value of 19 million euros. Subsequently, the market contracted, passing to 759,000 units between September 2006 and September 2007, for 12 million euro. In pole position is nicotine replacement therapy: over-the-counter drugs for 95% of sales. Among the market leaders are Johnson & Johnson, GSK and Novartis. For prescription drugs, competing for the market are Pfizer and GSK. Two Italian companies are offering anti-smoking treatments by Idi Farmaceutici and Angelini.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=14716
"An intranet pa for transplants"
(Il Sole 24 Ore: page 42 – 29 October 2007)
For 2008, 562 million euros have been allocated for new technologies for healthcare. To increase safety it is also necessary to understand procedures and routes, especially in sectors such as transplants. The integration of tissue bank information systems with the transplant information system is currently being developed to ensure the traceability of the entire process from donation to follow-up. The geographical network of the Transplant Information System connects the regional and interregional centers and the National Transplant Center through a PA (public administration) intranet dedicated to transplants. Operators of the ASL also connect to the network via the Internet for the registration of declarations of will, transplant centers for sending follow-ups and 'tissue banks'.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=14715
"One hundred judges against Turco: give the anti-sclerosis drug"
(Corriere della Sera: page 21 – 29 October 2007)
The Superior Health Council, which rejected a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), intervened after several Italian courts, on the basis of the principle of freedom of treatment, condemned the local health authorities to give a drug without proof of efficacy for free . The experts write that 'on the basis of the results available today, treatment for ALS with Igf and Igf-2/Igf-Bp3 is not justified'. This therapy is also causing serious cash problems: a 1-year cycle costs 130,000 euros.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=14712
Liberalisation: drug prices fall
(Corriere della Sera: page 28 – 28 October 2007)
The Bersani Decree, in relation to the pharmaceutical sector, made it possible to sell over-the-counter medicines even outside pharmacies, in supermarkets and parapharmacies. The results obtained to date are as follows: the opening of 1,661 new points of sale and a drop in prices of between 20 and 30%. In addition, approximately 5,000 new jobs for pharmacists are expected to be created by 2008.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=14718
"Sorin. FDA authorizes the sale of a valve"
(Libero Mercat page 14, Il Sole 24 Ore Finance & Markets: page 43 – 27 or
