| Pfizer's 'Golden Age of Drug Discovery' Announcer Moves on to AstraZeneca Derek Lowe submits: Remember Pfizer's (PFE) "golden age of drug discovery", the one that it was entering back in April? News comes now that Martin Mackay, the company exec who gave Bloomberg News that quote, has left for AstraZeneca (AZN). Mackay had been head of Pfizer's research for the last three years, and will be head of R&D in his new position. The news story linked to has various analysts talking about Pfizer's recent problems, and Mackay's effect on them, but I think that sort of thing is unfair. Three years (in most cases) is nowhere near enough time to say whether a head of research is making an impact on the drug pipeline. That's one of the biggest problems with managing in this industry - the long lead times before you get the real answers about anything.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Momenta Pharma Closes In on Sanofi Aventis With Biogeneric Approval Derek Lowe submits: So we actually had two converging stories on Friday afternoon - the news that Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) is going after Genzyme (GENZ), and the news that tiny Momenta Pharmaceuticals (MNTA) finally got FDA approval for a biogeneric of Lovenox (enoxaparin). . .a big seller for Sanofi-Aventis. I knew something was going on with those folks - I'm close enough in Cambridge that I could hear them whooping and popping champagne corks. They've got backing from Novartis (NVS), who will actually be making the stuff using Momenta's techniques, but this was make-or-break news for them, and they've been waiting for quite a while to hear it. Meanwhile, Sanofi-Aventis has been hoping just as long that this day wouldn't come.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Chelsea Therapeutics: Not Just a Short-Term Trade BioShockers submits:Chelsea Therapeutics (CHTP) is a biopharmaceutical development company that acquires and develops innovative products for the treatment of a variety of human diseases. Their pipeline consists of Droxidopa (indicated for use in Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension, Fybromyalgia, and Intradialytic Hypotension, Adult ADHD, and Chronic Fatigue), and CH-4501 (indicated for use in Rheumatoid Arthritis). Chelsea’s latest stage drug is Droxidopa (also known as Northera), which is currently in two pivotal phase 3 trials for the treatment of Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension (NOH). They completed one phase 3 trial last year, which missed the primary endpoint, yet did very well in other endpoints. This caused the stock to drop from ~$7.50 to ~2.80s. Chelsea then announced they were going to meet with FDA to discuss changing the primary endpoint in their second phase 3 trial – the FDA said yes, and Chelsea changed the primary endpoint of Study 301 to an endpoint that had previously demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in NOH patients. Data from Study 301 are expected in September.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
What's Happening to Your Health Plan The health-care overhaul may be driving prices up, forcing some employers to raise costs or limit choices. We explain how to play the mother of all open-enrollment seasons. online.wsj.com |
Provectus Gains Momentum Ahead of Upcoming Melanoma Data Presentation M.E. Garza submits: By Patrick CrutcherProvectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PVCT.OB) is a small-cap pharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for oncology and dermatology. Shares of PVCT have started to gain some momentum the past few weeks in anticipation of clinical data that is being presented in November.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |