Online health information provider WebMD is expecting strong numbers for the third quarter, due in part to increased industry foresight and new marketing programs for 2009.

The web site for AstraZeneca's heartburn medication Nexium www.purplepill.com, generated the most site traffic in Q2 2008.

Eli Lilly & Co.'s $62 million settlement with 32 states and the District of Columbia over off-label Zyprexa marketing comes with an agreement requiring, among other things, that the company furnish those state AGs with a list of all healthcare professionals paid more than $100 for promotional speaking and consulting in the US.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced a restructuring of its public affairs and corporate communications team.

FDA will initiate a pilot project to help manufacturers choose safer proprietary drug names.

The FDA slapped Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals with a warning letter on two 60-second TV ads for its YAZ contraceptive.

Pfizer established global business units to house its primary care and specialty drugs, along with a separate group for its efforts in emerging markets, moving away from a regional structure and putting development, medical, sales and marketing teams for those brands worldwide under one roof.

Lilly will buy ImClone for $6.5 billion, or $70 a share, cash.

The University of Minnesota Medical School is weighing a tough ban on gifts to physicians and requiring docs to publicly disclose all relationships with drug companies, according to a University newspaper.

Waterfront Media has announced a merger with Revolution Health, creating a formidable rival to online health leader WebMD.