Pfizer med ed head Mike Saxton dismissed the notion that the company was bowing to pressure in its decision to eliminate direct support for CME programs sponsored by medical education and communication companies (MECCs).

The judges' scores are in for the MM&M Awards 2008 submissions and the shortlist of finalists in each category will be revealed simultaneously in News Brief and at mmm-online.com next Tuesday, July 22.

Consumers engaging in prescription drug-related word-of-mouth tend to do it offline, according to a Keller Fay Group report.

PhRMA revised its Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals to sharply limit gifts to physicians.

The FDA will change the way it responds to drug applications, eliminating "approvable" and "not approvable" letters.

Mobile devices provide an increasing number of doctors with information and resources, from CME to drug reference databases, according to a Manhattan Research survey.

Novartis shelled out $10.4 billion to Nestle for a 25% stake in eye care company Alcon.

Al Nickel, chairman of LyonHeart and the TBWA\WorldHealth network, has announced his retirement.

Lisa Kowalski has joined Healthline Networks as senior director, strategic accounts for the West Coast. Kowalski was previously a senior global sales executive at Yahoo.

Abbott received FDA approval for its Xience V drug-coated stent, used to treat coronary artery disease. The stent is used to prop open a narrowed or blocked artery and releases a drug, everolimus, to prevent further blockage.