Launch

Vivus in talks to out-license ED drug Stendra

April 30, 2012

Rather than test the waters for faster-than-Viagra drug Stendra, Vivus wants another firm to handle marketing.
 

Company news: Corcept Therapeutics and Daiichi Sankyo

March 23, 2012

Corcept Therapeutics said its Cushing's syndrome drug will be launched three weeks earlier than expected.
 

Judge puts freeze on Merz bid to challenge Botox

March 07, 2012

US District Court Judge Andrew Guilford slammed the breaks on Merz's foray into a market dominated by Botox, siding with Allergan in a case about stealing intellectual property and poaching sales reps.
 

Company news: WebMD, Wiley-Blackwell and Eli Lilly/Boehringer Ingelheim

March 07, 2012

WebMD the Magazine is now part of the iPad app world.
 

Bydureon approval a shot across bow for Victoza

January 30, 2012

The FDA's go-ahead for Bydureon gives maker Amylin a much-needed win in the GLP-1 market.
 

No 'pent-up demand' for cancer med Jakafi, Incyte says

November 22, 2011

The launch of new cancer pill Jakafi will require extensive education, said Incyte Pharmaceuticals, owing partly to low awareness levels among doctors.
 

Incivek's $1 bil. in sales this year would set record for fastest launch, analyst says

November 03, 2011

Vertex's drug for treating hepatitis C virus, Incivek (telaprevir), is on course to smash the previous record for the biggest revenue-generating drug launch ever, says an analyst firm.
 

Branded Benlysta DTC campaign ready to roll out

October 26, 2011

New online and print DTC advertising targeting US patients with lupus will appear "within weeks," said executives from Human Genome Sciences. Can the campaign revive blockbuster fortunes for Benlysta?
 

Prolia, Xgeva fall short of analysts' Q3 sales forecasts

October 24, 2011

Amgen's global sales, up 3% in the third quarter, met analyst estimates, but its new denosumab franchise reflected slower growth than expected.
 

Vertex gears up sales force for CF drug launch

September 15, 2011

Biotech firm Vertex, fresh off the introduction of Incivek for hepatitis C, is busying itself with launch preparations once again.
 

LBi launches US digital health shop

July 12, 2011

LBi, a big European indie digital agency network, is opening up a healthcare marketing shop in the US, seeing opportunity in Publicis' increasing domination of the digital health space.
 

Vertex versus Goliaths in HCV drug duel

May 23, 2011

Vertex has succeeded in bringing one heck of a new drug to market in Incivek (in-SEE-veck, or telaprevir), a hepatitis C drug 15 years in the making which promises to cut treatment time in half. Selling the drug against the combined might of Roche and Merck could be nearly as tricky.
 

Pradaxa DTC goes the white coat route

May 09, 2011

Boehringer Ingelheim is launching its Pradaxa DTC campaign with a first wave of white-coated doctors talking up the blood thinner for atrial fibrillation.
 

For Tradjenta, a tough climb, and for Lilly, a vital one

May 05, 2011

Lilly/Boehringer Ingelheim's third-to-market DPP-4 inhibitor Tradjenta, approved earlier this week for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, faces an uphill battle for market share against Merck's entrenched market leader Januvia and BMS/AstraZeneca's Onglyza.
 

Amgen issues bullish forecast for 'dmab' franchise

April 21, 2011

At the biotech's business update meeting today, Amgen president and COO, Robert Bradway, said he hopes to build the denosumab franchise to $3-$4 billion of worldwide sales by 2015.
 

Eisai job cuts part of shift to oncology franchise model

March 04, 2011

Eisai is winding down a co-promotion deal with Pfizer and shifting toward a lean commercial structure it says will thrust it into the top 10 in women's oncology.
 

Forest Labs to acquire Clinical Data, add reps for Viibryd launch

February 22, 2011

Forest Labs will acquire Clinical Data for $1.2 billion, and expand its primary care sales forces in preparation for the launch of Viibryd (vilazodone HCI), executives said in a call this morning.
 

Sunovion reps deployed for Latuda

February 10, 2011

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals is targeting 22,000 psychiatrists in the US, with a sales force of 336 reps, in support of Latuda, an atypical antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia. Psychiatrists can also request samples and track delivery online.
 

GSK and HGS put the 'us' in lupus, ahead of Benlysta FDA decision

January 27, 2011

GlaxoSmithKline and Human Genome Sciences launched a patient community for lupus sufferers and their friends and family, in anticipation of an FDA decision on Benlysta in March.
 

New depression med hopes to grab a piece of the $12 billion pie

January 25, 2011

With depression brand leaders Cymbalta and Lexapro closing in on patent expiry, Clinical Data's newly approved Viibryd (vilazodone HCI) for major depressive disorders hopes to carve out a piece of the roughly $12 billion US market.
 

iRep lets docs sign an iPad for samples

January 19, 2011

Sales reps armed with an iPad can collect digital signatures for samples thanks to iRep, a physician detailing application set to launch in mid-February.
 

Pfizer hypes Advil line extension with TV ad, personal shopper offer

November 17, 2010

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare is launching an Advil line extension with a contest to win a personal shopper for "Black Friday," the Friday after Thanksgiving, when bargain-hunting holiday shoppers pack stores.
 

New cancer journal tackles advances in research

November 02, 2010

The American Association for Cancer Research will launch a new journal -- Cancer Discovery -- in April 2011. The peer-reviewed journal will focus on research spanning cancer science and medicine, including news, commentaries, and "Research Watch" summaries of important journal articles.
 

P&G, Somaxon deploy reps and e-detailing for Silenor launch

September 28, 2010

Proctor & Gamble and Somaxon Pharmaceuticals have deployed 215 reps in support of Silenor (doxepin), a newly approved sleep aid indicated for sleep maintenance. E-detailing programs will also launch this quarter.
 

Kowa's US CEO says new statin holds appeal for untreated patients

June 24, 2010

To those who believe we have everything we need in the lipid-lowering world, Ben Stakely, Kowa Pharmaceuticals America (KPA) CEO and president, has one thing to say: "I would argue with you."
 

FDA OKs Merck's Dulera for asthma

June 24, 2010

FDA approved Merck's Dulera, a combination inhaler, for asthma patients 12 years and older, the company announced today.
 

Amgen deploys up to 1,000 reps on Prolia approval

June 03, 2010

Amgen has deployed "500 to 1,000" reps in support of Prolia (denosumab), a biologic osteoporosis treatment that received FDA approval on June 1. The drug was approved in the European Union on May 28.
 

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, CBS HealthWatch partner for colon disease awareness

May 19, 2010

Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon Endo-Surgery partnered with CBS HealthWatch and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons for a web event broadcast live from EES's booth at the Society's ongoing annual meeting.
 

Covidien launches two pain drugs with fresh sales forces

April 27, 2010

Covidien announced the launch of two branded pain drugs -- Exalgo and Pennsaid -- and hired around 250 reps to support the products. Professional ads are in the works for May.
 

Novo reps to spotlight weight loss for Victoza launch

February 04, 2010

Sales forces for Novo Nordisk's Victoza will underscore the injectable's weight loss properties when it launches next month.
 

Video Exclusive

Web Exclusives

Five industry experts advise specialty pharma company on digital strategy

April 20, 2012

Specialty pharma company POZEN assembled a crack team of experts to help shape its digital strategy. Not only did POZEN share with us the text from their contributions, but you can watch exclusive video clips of their valuable perspectives right here.
 

MM&M Awards 2011 HIghlights

The Best MM&M Awards Ever!

MAHF Ceremony 2012

Photos from the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame Awards ceremony