Business

Digitas Health, Razorfish Health to share new leadership, global team, in efficiency-driven reorg

James Chase June 23, 2011

Digitas Health and Razorfish Health are undergoing an organizational restructure in which the two Publicis-owned siblings will share two newly appointed co-presidents, launch a single global leadership team and develop a variety of centers of excellence.

Novartis announces new changes to US pharma biz

Ben Comer April 14, 2010

Following a full-scale realignment of its commercial model in 2009, Novartis will make new adjustments to its US pharmaceutical operations, including a change at the top: Ludwig Hantson, CEO and head of North American pharmaceuticals, will exit the company, a Novartis spokeswoman confirmed.

Drugs.com defects to WebMD

Marc Iskowitz November 11, 2009

Drugs.com, a free online drug-information database, will join the WebMD Health Network starting Jan. 1, said WebMD.

AAFP pact with Coke distasteful to some

Marc Iskowitz November 05, 2009

An alliance with the nation's largest soft drink maker to sponsor advice on sugar-free alternatives has spurred criticism of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

Publicis lands Razorfish

Ben Comer August 11, 2009

Publicis will acquire Razorfish, a Microsoft-owned digital and interactive shop, for roughly $530 million, according to joint company statements.

Lilly looks homeward for communications chief

Matthew Arnold June 08, 2009

Lilly named former Indianapolis mayor Bart Peterson to lead its communications and corporate affairs functions.

Non-compliance, requests for generics on the rise, says survey

Matthew Arnold May 28, 2009

Physicians say patient compliance is getting worse, and they're hearing more requests for generic or OTC alternatives to prescribed medications as the economic malaise takes its toll, according to a PriMed survey.

SSL taps Saatchi Wellness for Durex US

Matthew Arnold May 18, 2009

Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness won the US integrated marketing account for Durex following a four-way pitch. The assignment spans advertising, digital, retail and CRM and includes the launch of the new Bare condom.

Pfizer taps former Gore aide to lead policy efforts

Matthew Arnold May 12, 2009

Pfizer hired onetime Gore advisor turned healthcare think tanker Gregory Simon to head its global policy efforts as the industry gears up for a health reform fight in Washington.

Amylin slashes sales force by 35%

Matthew Arnold May 05, 2009

Amylin is cutting 200 sales positions -- around 35% of its sales force -- as it merges its specialty and primary care sales forces into a single organization targeting endocrinologists and diabetes-focused primary care physicians.

Worldwide, consumers prefer generics, says study

Matthew Arnold April 22, 2009

Consumers worldwide overwhelmingly prefer medicines that have been around a long time to the latest treatments, and over half prefer generics to branded drugs given the choice, according to a DDB Health survey.

GSK buys derm firm Steifel

Matthew Arnold April 20, 2009

GlaxoSmithKline is buying dermatology specialist Steifel for $3.6 billion.

WebMD closes in on Everyday Health: comScore

Ben Comer April 17, 2009

WebMD pulled within one million unique visitors (UV) of Everyday Health, tightening the UV horserace between the two companies, according to comScore's numbers from March.

Pfizer and GSK to form HIV specialty company

Ben Comer April 16, 2009

Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline will combine their HIV products and pipelines to form a specialty company, according to an announcement today.

J&J to eliminate 900 sales-related positions

Ben Comer April 10, 2009

Johnson & Johnson will cut 900 positions at its Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit by the end of the second quarter.

Genentech pulls Raptiva over PML risk

Matthew Arnold April 09, 2009

Genentech and FDA announced the withdrawal of psoriasis treatment Raptiva due to a risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and deadly viral brain infection.

Pfizer R&D to split into large and small molecule divisions

Ben Comer April 07, 2009

Pfizer announced organizational plans for the company post-Wyeth acquisition, including a new focus on biopharmaceuticals, and the retention of eight Wyeth senior executives.

Brennan to chair PhRMA board, with Kindler waiting in the wings

Matthew Arnold April 03, 2009

PhRMA's board of directors elected AstraZeneca chief David Brennan as this year's board chairman and Pfizer chairman and CEO Jeff Kindler chairman-elect.

IMS, SDI want Supremes to look at prescriber data laws

Ben Comer March 27, 2009

IMS Health and SDI are seeking a Supreme Court review of an appeals court ruling that restricts the commercial use of prescriber data in the state of New Hampshire.

GSK to expand clinical trial disclosures

Matthew Arnold March 26, 2009

GlaxoSmithKline said it will broaden its transparency policies to include greater disclosure of its clinical research and the physicians the company works with on clinical trials.

Pfizer taps Cephalon exec to head US oncology

Matthew Arnold March 24, 2009

Pfizer named Elizabeth Barrett regional president, US for its Oncology Business Unit, a new position, with responsibility for Pfizer's US oncology sales, field operations and marketing.

Number of reps down 10% since 2007, says study

Anthony Vecchione March 23, 2009

Job security for pharma sales reps is looking bleak, going by the results of a ZS Associates study. The survey found that the number of US reps has plummeted 10% since 2007 to 92,000, and the management consultancy projects a further decline, to 75,000 by 2012.

Iowa Senate passes harsh gifts, data ban bill

Matthew Arnold March 20, 2009

Iowa's state Senate passed a healthcare bill containing some of the toughest restrictions on drug company contacts with physicians yet.

IMS: US Rx drug sales were flat in 2008

Matthew Arnold March 19, 2009

IMS said US prescription drug sales grew 1.3% in 2008 to $291 billion amid increased use of generics, lower sales of new products and slackening consumer demand resulting from the economic downturn.

Consolidation redraws pharma marketing map

Ben Comer March 17, 2009

In just the first three months of 2009, several of the largest companies in the industry announced mergers that will change the face of an industry dogged by sluggish pipelines.

Roche to acquire Genentech

Ben Comer March 12, 2009

Roche will buy all remaining shares of Genentech at $95 dollars apiece, or $46.8 billion total, the companies announced in a joint statement. Prior to the deal, Roche held 56% of the company's shares.

Advanstar's Savage, PMI's Bennicasa win Nexus Awards

Matthew Arnold March 10, 2009

Advanstar's Debby Savage and Pharmaceutical Media Inc.'s Gina Bennicasa won the Association of Medical Media's 17th annual Nexus Representatives of the Year Awards, honoring outstanding sales professionals in medical publishing.

BMS creates strategic leadership committee

Ben Comer March 05, 2009

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has created an executive committee of four, tasked with leading company strategy and development.

Cline, Davis & Mann launches CDM World Agency

Matthew Arnold March 02, 2009

Cline, Davis & Mann is going global with the launch of CDM World Agency, an international healthcare agency network with offices in Europe and Brazil and plans to expand into China, Japan, Mexico and Canada.

Pfizer hires ex-Novartis PR as reputation czar

Matthew Arnold February 26, 2009

Pfizer named Kathryn Metcalfe VP, corporate reputation and policy communication - a new post in which she's tasked with building the company's reputation and communicating Pfizer's stance on policy issues worldwide.