http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Insight RSS Feed from Business Monitor International en Copyright 2009, Business Monitor International Ltd Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:30 GMT Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:30 GMT AFP RSS Generator Deaths resulting from heart disease in Canada have fallen by just under a third between 1994 and 2004. Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) also revealed that the survival rate from heart attacks contributed significantly to the reduction, with fatalities from strokes and heart failure down by 23% and 28% respectively. BMI believes the country is an example of successful health awareness campaigns, with patients actively seeking preventative measures and diagnoses sooner. http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/79024/Successful-Health-Awareness-Results-In-Heart-Disease-Falling.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT Over 20 pharmaceutical distributors in Romania have suspended supplies to almost half of the country's hospitals and pharmacies, as a result of the accumulation of debts of over RON1bn (US$335mn) and the consequent failure to meet deadlines for payments. BMI believes that while severe shortages in medicines are unlikely to occur, arrears provide a significant downside risk to our growth forecasts. http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/79022/Debts-Threaten-Pharmaceutical-Supply-Chain.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT The highly promising biosimilar sector has two new players. US-based Mylan has entered into a partnership with Indian firm Biocon to develop copies of medicines produced using biotechnology. Because both parties have complementary attributes, BMI believes the project will be a success. However, we note that the movement into biosimilars by Mylan and Biocon is well behind other firms, such as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Sandoz and Merck & Co. http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/79023/Mylan-and-Biocon-Move-Into-Biosimilars.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT Indian drugmaker Aurobindo's latest foray into South Africa has lead to an unexpected change in tone by the country's government. The state procurement authorities have preferentially rejected Aurobindo's tendered price for antiretrovirals (ARVs), despite being around 40% cheaper than those offered by domestic pharmaceutical firms. Aurobindo is now suing the South African Treasury, which in our view, highlights the barriers to entry for Indian drugmakers into the country. http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/79021/Aurobindo-To-Sue-Treasury-Over-Lost-Tenders.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT A study carried out by global logistics firm UPS has revealed that regulatory issues top the list of supply chain concerns expressed by pharmaceutical companies. Among large pharmaceutical companies with sales topping US$1bn, 56% stated that an increased regulatory burden was their top concern, while approximately 30% of smaller drugmakers also attributed supply chain concerns to regulatory http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78980/Drugmakers-Concerned-About-Supply-Chain-Regulations.html Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT Protocol for the purchase of pharmaceuticals in Guyana has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that the Ministry of Health waived the tendering process defined by the Procurement Act. Between December 2008 and May 2009 three contracts with a value of GYD850mn (US$4.2mn) were awarded to indigenous firm the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Company, through a restricted tender process. BMI believes that the opaque procurement system is likely to deter multinationals from investing in Guyana and that protectionism likely played a key role in the http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78981/Protective-Procurement-Procedures-Limit-Market-Opportunities.html Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT Despite the local pricing regulator recently turning down the expanded use of its key drug, Japanese pharmaceutical company http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78979/Eisai-Open-European-Knowledge-Centre.html Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT In another wave of acquisition activity in the pharmaceutical industry, Sanofi-Aventis has announced that it will be considering further purchases of smaller generic drugmakers. Unlike the general trend among patented drugmakers to seek strategic partnerships or licensing agreements with generic pharmaceutical firms, Sanofi's intention to buy will instead give it more http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78978/Sanofi-Considers-Further-Generic-Acquisitions.html Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT The United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Chile's Ministry of Health have formed a partnership that aims to accelerate progress against cancer in the US and Latin America. The programme will focus on the development of joint research projects and the training of researchers, with an emphasis on basic and clinical cancer research. Work will also be carried out to enhance existing cancer registries and the execution of early phase clinical studies with cultural sensitivity. http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78941/Partnership-Formed-To-Accelerate-Cancer-Research.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT A study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has revealed that annual global health aid spending by private donors increased from US$5.6bn in 1990 to US$21.8bn in 2007. The report indicates that in general, poor countries receive more funds than those countries with access to more resources; however, nearly half of the 30 nations with the highest disease burdens are not receiving as much aid as those with lower disease burdens. http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78942/Global-Health-Funding-Growing.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT Tanzania's Medical Stores Department (MSD) has fallen under scrutiny for failing to regulate the supply and distribution of medicines in the country. In 2008, over 4,000 health providers complained of missed deliveries or the receipt of substandard medicines as a result of poor storage. BMI believes that the MSD must implement a more efficient decentralised procurement system to reduce errors in the supply chain. http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78939/Medicine-Supply-Chain-Under-Scrutiny.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT In a positive development for Israeli drugmakers, the EU will recognise that Good Manufacturing Practices adopted within the country are sufficient not to warrant additional testing when drugs are exported to Europe. BMI notes that this cuts costs for Israel's pharmaceutical firms and will boost drug exports. http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78940/EU-To-Recognise-Good-Manufacturing-Practice-From-Domestic-Pharmaceutical-Firms.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT Jamaica has established an export/import inspection centre in Kingston to handle the country's trade in a more efficient and transparent manner. We believe this will have a positive impact on dealings with its pharmaceutical import partners, particularly as regulatory representatives from various government agencies, including the Ministry of Health, will be based at the new centre. http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78897/More-Regulated-Pharmaceutical-Trade-With-New-Import-Export-Centre.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT The government of Bangladesh is planning to relax rules regarding the importation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Local manufacturers are protesting against the proposal and believe they will be priced out of the market. BMI expects the changes to be implemented, but cautions that the introduction should be gradual to lessen the impact on domestic http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78896/Import-Rules-To-Be-Relaxed.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT Hungary-based Gedeon Richter has acquired licensing rights to a number of technology platforms and women's health products from US speciality firm KV Pharmaceutical. Richter will be authorised to manufacture present in-licensed products and its own proprietary drugs using KV technology and market them across Europe, including all EU member states. Financial terms were http://www.pharmaceuticalsinsight.com/file/78895/Richter-Capacity-Grows-Further-With-KV-Licensing-Deal.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT