Harry and Louise, the stars of the ad that helped sink Hillary Clinton's healthcare plan 14 years ago, are back to beg for government intervention in the nation's healthcare mess.

Seeking to increase its share of voice without beefing up its sales force, AstraZeneca is partnering with Abbott on a co-promotion of Crestor in the US.

Pfizer is teaming up with a firefighters' union for a smoking cessation campaign aimed at making the International Association of Fire Fighters "the first smoke-free union."

A big healthcare bill that passed Massachusetts' legislature last night contains a few nasty surprises for industry -- including a code of conduct for drug marketers, an academic detailing program and stringent reporting requirements for payments to physicians.

A group of senators and representatives is introducing a bill that would fund a test-run for so-called "academic detailing," whereby supposedly unbiased health professionals funded by non-commercial entities detail doctors just as drug company sales reps do.

Verispan has been bought by rival healthcare analytics firm SDI for an undisclosed price.

The Medicare prescription drug benefit has goosed pharma industry profits to the tune of $3.7 billion, said a report from Rep. Henry Waxman's Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Doctors and pharmacists drive a third of patients to AstraZeneca's AZ&Me prescription savings program, according to a company survey -- a finding that AstraZeneca said highlights the value of its sales reps' interactions with healthcare professionals.

Johnson & Johnson is considering consolidating advertising and marketing for its pharmaceutical brands into one or two companies, a company spokesperson told MM&M.

Teva is buying Montvale, NJ-based Barr Pharmaceuticals for $7.4 billion and will take on debt of $1.5 billion.