United States

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has started a 2-month investigation into the competitive effects of authorised generics in the prescription drug market. At total of 190 companies... 2006-04-03

Dutch biotechnology firm Crucell is to sell its biopharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing business - Rhein Biotech GmbH - to US company Dynavax Technologies for EUR10mn (US$12.1mn).... 2006-03-30

UK drug major GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is to pay US states some US$14mn over claims that the company blocked generic versions of blockbuster depression drug Paxil (paroxetine). However,... 2006-03-30

US-based Baxter has launched a licensed generic version of Pfizer's Zithromax (azithromycin) antibiotic, marking the first time that a company has been granted exclusive authorisation... 2006-03-28

The Czech Republic and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the US, have established a clinical research centre that will strengthen European/US R&D efforts. The International Clinical... 2006-03-24

Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) have settled their patent infringement lawsuit with Apotex over their anti-platelet drug Plavix (clopidogrel), which generated revenue... 2006-03-23

French pharmaceutical firm Ipsen has licensed its Reloxin (botulinum type A) anti-wrinkle drug to US-based Medicis

President George W Bush has controversially selected Andrew von Eschenbach as his nomination to be Head of the US FDA. Although likely to go ahead, the appointment of von Eschenbach... 2006-03-16

Watson Pharmaceuticals has out-bid rivals such as Indian drug maker Wockhardt to enter into definitive merger agreement to acquire fellow US firm Andrx for US$1.9bn. The transaction... 2006-03-14

US consumer body Public Citizen has petitioned the US FDA to gradually withdraw the widely prescribed analgesic propoxyphene from the market because the drug has been associated with... 2006-03-13