by Anna Bratulic

Last Updated:September 09, 2009 18:59



An FDA advisory panel on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly that clinical data support the efficacy and safety of GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix in preventing cervical cancer and cervical pre-cancers related to human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in girls and young women.





At the meeting, panel members indicated that while certain clinical data suggest Cervarix is safe, follow-up studies should be conducted in order… Continue

US federal court denies $473-million tax refund request from Schering-Plough

by Anna Bratulic



A federal court in New Jersey rejected Schering-Plough's request for a $473-million refund on taxes paid on $690 million in profits that the drugmaker repatriated from offshore subsidiaries into the US, the Department of Justice stated. Schering-Plough spokesman Steve Galpin said "we disagree with the court's decision and are considering our options, including appealing the… Continue

by Anna Bratulic



Merck & Co. announced plans Monday to restructure into five main divisions after it completes its planned $41.1-billion merger with Schering-Plough. The drugmaker also assigned executive positions for the new organisation, and indicated that around 40 percent of Schering-Plough's senior leaders will occupy high-level roles in the merged company.





The five primary divisions will include Global Human Health (GHH), to be headed by Merck's current… Continue

AstraZeneca presented previously announced Phase III data at the European Society of Cardiology Congress showing that experimental antiplatelet agent Brilinta (ticagrelor) significantly reduced cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), compared with sanofi-aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb's Plavix (clopidogrel). Cardiologist Douglas Weaver, a past president of the American College of Cardiology, remarked that Brilinta "will become the new standard of… Continue

Analyst says study on Boehringer Ingelheim's Pradaxa may have "major implications" for Xarelto: report

by Anna Bratulic



According to Wells Fargo Securities analyst Larry Biegelsen, a study of Boehringer Ingelheim's Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate) in patients with atrial fibrillation, which is to be presented at a conference later this month, may have "major implications" for Bayer and Johnson & Johnson's anticoagulant Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Bloomberg reported. Shares in Bayer… Continue