MM&M Weekly Digest - 1/27/12 - Medical Marketing and Media

Pfizer's Lipitor share slips, casting doubt on power of a loyalty program to save the brand

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.

FDA gives guidance on brand, generic names in ads

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

Abbott to lay off 700 as Xience co-promote winds down

Illinois pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories notified 700 employees Wednesday that they will be out of work.

New president has 'big tent' vision for CME association

Damon Marquis wants to make one thing clear: CME is not the only important form of medical education.

Tysabri gets boost from label change, new diagnostic

Biogen Idec and Elan, which market Tysabri for multiple sclerosis, won approval to add new safety information to the drug's label that could boost sales by helping doctors avoid a serious adverse event.

J&J sales up, but earnings wiped out by settlements, product liability and recall costs

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.

Senate Judiciary takes on Medicaid Rx rates

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) put 34 Medicaid programs on notice that they are not doing enough to rein in over prescription of certain drugs and he wants to know why.

DSM-5 may classify mourning as depression

The latest revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders may put an end to classifying bereavement as something other than depression, though it's not clear that will mean much of a bump in the market for antidepressants.

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