January, 2005:

• Fosamax patent ruling another blow for Merck
• Greenfield Online acquires Rapidata.net
• British Medical Journal retracts Prozac report
• Cialis set for Super Bowl return
• AstraZeneca expects earnings rise despite Crestor, Exanta, Iressa questions
• MS&L opens Quebec office and names SVP
• Two Industry Veterans Launch JYT Health
• Pharma companies increase prices on popular drugs
• Johnson & Johnson sees global pharmaceutical sales jump
• Mindspan adds Jim King as VP, business development
• Final Medicare Rx benefit rules unveiled
• ISN and NPG partner to create new journal
• FDA approves 31 NMEs in 2004, 10 more than in 2003
• Mobic’s blockbuster potential follows COX-2 bad news
• Novartis to air eye Rx ad during first half of Super Bowl
• MediaVest transfer prompted by assignment concentration
• Ortho-McNeil seeks NDA for premature ejaculation drug
• Pfizer purchases Angiosyn, deal to close in first quarter
• Former Aventis executives now in new Novo Nordisk posts
• Chandler Chicco acquires Korea communications firm
• Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ventiv ink multi-year service deal
• Ogilvy and Healthworld merge to form new agency
• Journal study raises questions about Plavix
• Prounis launches new agency
• Competitive market should keep drug prices down, HHS nominee says
• CommonHealth launches new agency
• Drug Store News, NACDS to host Rx marketing event for seniors
• FDA to again decide on OTC switch for Plan B contraceptive
• Schering-Plough makes changes in its R&D operations
• FDA panel rejects OTC request for Mevacor
• J&J's Christine Poon accepts additional roles
• FDA panel considers nonprescription sale of Mevacor
• Palio makes several promotions
• FDA issues warning over Celebrex, Bextra ads
• Chandler Chicco Agency acquires Ignition Strategic Communications
• Stonefly adds five to its staff
• Big pharma launches new discount card
• Prescription drug spending slows
• AstraZeneca’s Crestor linked to a death
• Publicis Selling Solutions launches first CSO sales force
• Par taps MacPhee as new SVP, branded marketing and sales
• Legal challenge to Lipitor worries Wall Street
• Novartis taps Euro for Elidel, Lamisil med ed
• Bayer buys rights to market Levitra abroad
• New form of Taxol approved.
• Sudler & Hennessey acquires Current Medical Directions
• Consumer health exposition to focus on family caregivers
• Redi-Mail acquires PPS Medical Marketing Group
• People, Product and Agency News from the Jan. 7th MM&M News Brief
• Torre Lazur McCann names Ouimette as president
• Schering-Plough names Omnicom, Publicis to handle Rx ads
• AZ cuts 500 contract sales jobs
• Drug companies urged to improve R&D strategies
• Andrx abandons brand-name drug business
• USP issues final Medicare drug benefit plan
• Seasonale warned by FDA for ads
• McCarthy promoted at Lanmark Group
• Setback for Pfizer drug Lyrica