(The Financial Times online - October 1, 2007)
Smith & Nephew, a manufacturer of orthopedic implants, was fined $28.9 million by the US government and will be subjected to 5 years of ethical monitoring after being accused of paying bribes to surgeons to push the use of its products. In addition to S&N, Zimmer, Biomet and Johnson & Johnson have also been accused of paying surgeons large sums of money or trips or bonuses. These 4 companies together cover approximately 95% of the implantology market.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=14427
"Stop Unauthorized Drugs"
(Il Sole 24 Ore: page 8 – 1 October 2007)
On the basis of a provision of the new Budget law, it will no longer be possible to prescribe 'compassionate use' medicines. From 2008, the budget law will prohibit doctors from prescribing drugs that are not authorized for sale.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=14424
"Alarm in the USA. Killer drugs against coughs for children"
(la Repubblica: page 1 – 30 September 2007)
FDA, on Friday, Sept. 28, decided to clamp down on about 200 untested and unlicensed cough suppressants. The anti-tussive drugs removed from the US market have the narcotic hydrocodone as the active ingredient. On 18 October, the American agency will pronounce itself on antihistamines and decongestants for colds. On medicine packaging, the phrase 'ask a doctor before giving to children' could be replaced with 'do not give to children under 6 years' for antihistamines, or 'over 2 years' for decongestants. Also in Italy AIFA has decided that a particular class of decongestants will be written 'do not administer the product to children under 12'. The provision concerns the active ingredients known as sympathomimetics (ephedrine and the like).
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=14431
"Recordati buy Orphan Europe"
(la Repubblica: page 51 – September 30, 2007; International Herald Tribune: page 19 – October 1, 2007)
Recordati has acquired Orphan Europe, a French pharmaceutical company specializing in the development and marketing of medicines for rare diseases, for 135 million euros. Orphan Europe in 2006 achieved revenues of 40 million euros and an operating profit of 7.6 million euros.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=14428
Here comes the pill against premature ejaculation
(Corriere della Sera: page 20, Il Messagger page 17 – 30 September 2007)
The FDA has authorized the sale of a dapoxetine-based pill to combat the phenomenon of premature ejaculation which affects the 40% of men between the ages of 20 and 50, around 4 million in Italy alone. This molecule, already used as an antidepressant, can be taken 1-3 hours before sexual intercourse and could arrive in Europe by 2008.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=14425
Bouty on the Stock Exchange from 9 October
(Bloomberg Borsa & Finanza: pag. 18 – 29 Sept
