Reckitt Benckiser: internal inquiry
(International Herald Tribune: p. 12 – 10 March 2008)
Reckitt Benckiser has launched an internal inquiry after the BBC reported that the company would block the sale of generic versions of its heartburn drug Gaviscon (sodium alginate + potassium bicarbonate).
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=16038
"Sleep, a business that never sleeps"
(la Repubblica Affari & Finanza: page 25 – 10 March 2008)
In Europe 33 million people suffer from insomnia and in Italy there are about 10 million. A 2007 research by Frost & Sullivan reveals that the total worldwide turnover was 5 billion dollars and will reach 10 billion by 2012. In Italy, the latest AIFA report on drug consumption shows that benzodiazepines and analogues (anxiolytics hypnotics, sedatives) have a category C consumption of around 480 million euros.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=16037
"Dialysis, the world giants at the big manoeuvres"
(la Repubblica Affari & Finanza: page 26 – 10 March 2008)
The clinical dialysis market is on the move. Fresenius Medical Care, an industry leader, had 2007 revenues of $9.7 billion, up 14% over 2006, and expects total earnings to increase 15% for 2008. The German company currently has between 2 and 300 million dollars available to make acquisitions and seems to be very interested in the Italian Bellco, which would bring it the 15% of the Italian market. The other giants of the sector are also involved in this competitive tender: the Swedish Gambro and the Japanese Terumo.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=16033
"Chiesi. In 2007 it runs without acquisitions"
(Il Sole 24 Ore: page 20 – 10 March 2008)
Chiesi in 2007 achieved sales of 654 million euro, with a growth of 11.2%. This result, obtained without acquisitions, is more than double the average growth of the European pharmaceutical market and has allowed the company to exceed its budget.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=16027
Catricalà: 'Discount on 20% over-the-counter drugs in pharmacies'
(Il Sole 24 Ore: page 5 – 9 March 2008)
According to the President of the Antitrust Authority, Antonio Catricalà, the Bersani Law on liberalizations has been effective in the pharmaceutical sector, with particular reference to self-medication drugs: 'over-the-counter drugs represent between 8 and 12% of a pharmacy's turnover: there are discounts of 20% in that segment, so the opening of alternative sales channels has worked'.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=16035
Eli Lilly blocks inhalable insulin trials
(The Wall Street Journal online - March 8, 2008)
Eli Lilly has announced it will suspend trials of its AIR insulin product it is developing with Alkermes. Both companies have specified that the decision is not due to safety concerns of the drug. Lilly has specified that it does not intend to abandon the project, currently in phase III, nor the plans for the presentation of the dossier to the regulatory authority, foreseen for 2009.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=16031
"Recordati closes the deal in Russia"
(Il Sole 24 Ore: page 34 – 8 March 2008)
