Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke isn’t savoring the drop in the US unemployment rate to 8.3%, the lowest in three years, and the pharmaceutical industry can definitely relate.
Exceeding analyst expectations for a failure, the FDA’s Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee voted 12-1 against an expanded use for Amgen’s denosumab drug Xgeva.
The U.S. Solicitor General has filed an amicus brief siding with the pharmaceutical sales representatives in their overtime case against GlaxoSmithKline.
A report by outsourcing firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed the pharmaceutical industry ranked third among the highest-layoff industries in January 2012.
Amgen wants to extend use of bone cancer drug Xgeva (denosumab) into the prevention setting, but analysts, not to mention the FDA’s own advisors, are not optimistic about its chances.
Merck looks to wake up sleep aids category with suvorexant
Merck continues to wade deeper into the prescription sleep aid category. The company said Monday that it will file a New Drug Application with the FDA this year for its therapy.
Merck, GSK shrug off rec to make HPV vaccine routine
Vaccinating boys between the ages of 11 and 12 against human papillomavirus, or HPV, could become a new part of pre-adolescence if a new recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices takes hold with parents and physicians.
Merck results buoyed by sales of Januvia franchise
Merck said Thursday its ownership of the global marketplace for DPP-IV diabetes drugs helped it close out the quarter with $12.3 billion in sales, and $48 billion in sales for the year. The two drugs behind the boost were Januvia, which saw a 42% bump in fourth quarter sales, and Janumet, which saw sales jump 34% for the quarter.