‘The FDA has asked manufacturers of epilepsy drugs to re-examine clinical trial data in response to claims that Pfizer’s [PFZ.L] Neurontin (gabapentin) increases the risk of suicide. Although the FDA seems unlikely to issue a ‘black box’ warning yet, any reassessment of the data on Neurontin could still dent the drug’s revenues, as has occurred […]
‘Oncology specialist OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Wednesday said it plans to study whether a higher dose of its Tarceva lung cancer drug will improve effectiveness in cancer patients who smoke.
The company based its decision on data from a comparative study that showed smoking reduced the level of Tarceva in the blood of healthy volunteers.
Tarceva is […]
‘An alleged international Internet drug ring with ties to Rochester has been shut down. The US Drug Enforcement Agency announced Wednesday that 20 people were arrested in four foreign countries and eight US cities, including Rochester.
The DEA said that the e-traffickers sold prescription drugs to anyone online. Among the arrested is Rohn Wallace, 38, of […]
‘Oncology specialist OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Wednesday said it plans to study whether a higher dose of its Tarceva lung cancer drug will improve effectiveness in cancer patients who smoke.
The company based its decision on data from a comparative study that showed smoking reduced the level of Tarceva in the blood of healthy volunteers.
Tarceva is […]
‘The Supreme Court, hearing a dispute that could affect how quickly cutting-edge medicines are developed, expressed skepticism Wednesday that a drug company’s patent could prohibit rivals from starting research on competing medications.
The case involves Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp., which accuses Germany’s Merck KGaA of infringing on a patent Integra holds on certain molecules Merck is […]
‘Drug maker Wyeth, bolstered by higher sales of its antibiotics and depression medicines, on Wednesday said its first-quarter profit surged 43.8 percent over last year.
Wyeth stock dropped nearly 3 percent after an initial upsurge as the company also said it would exceed earnings expectation for 2005.
Wyeth reported earnings of $1.08 billion, or 80 cents per […]
‘Pfizer Inc. posted a sharp decline in first-quarter net because of a number of charges, including one related to suspending sales of its Bextra anti-inflammatory drug. Forest Laboratories Inc. reported lower fourth-quarter sales and earnings, but said revenue for the coming year would exceed Wall Street’s estimates.
Shares of Manhattan-based Pfizer, which also trimmed its full-year […]
‘In a meeting with investors just three days ago, Pfizer executives repeatedly promised that Bextra, a painkiller that generated $1.3 billion in sales last year, would help the company through a difficult transition period.
Guess again.
The Food and Drug Administration forced Pfizer yesterday to stop selling Bextra, citing concerns that the drug can cause a dangerous […]