Matthew Arnold

Novartis will eliminate 1,630 sales rep jobs and 330 headquarters marketing jobs as its hypertension franchise faces the impending loss of Diovan patent exclusivity and the impact of ugly study results on Tekturna sales.

Takeda said it will slash its global workforce by around 2,800 jobs—700 in the US, the rest in Europe—as it absorbs Nycomed and moves toward a more diverse product portfolio.

WebMD's non-sale was the big story in digital health media last month, but the buzz in the space is all around software-as-a-service firms, says media banker Berkery Noyes

News of WebMD's planned sale—since aborted—surprised many observers.

An FDA study looking at the power of background visuals to distract viewers from the often-ominous risk info read in the "major statement" section of TV drug ads found no evidence that consumer understanding of risk info is affected by the "emotional (affective) tone of images.

Generic drug sales will peak this year, says a Goldman Sachs report, as the sector approaches its own cliff.

The FDA issued guidance clarifying narrow questions of scientific or generic name placement in ads and labeling in different media, including electronic media.

Seven weeks after Pfizer's main Lipitor patent expired in the US, the drug is down to 32% market share and at least one name-brand analyst is casting doubt on the brand's survival strategy.

Days after a $158 million settlement of charges that its Janssen unit fraudulently marketed Risperdal in Texas, Johnson & Johnson forecast fourth-quarter net earnings of just $218 million due to settlement costs and the recall of its DePuy ASR artificial hip.

Takeda said it will slash its global workforce by around 2,800 jobs - 700 of those in the US and the rest in Europe - as it absorbs Nycomed and moves toward a more diverse product portfolio.