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I finally got around to watching the latest episode (Nov 21, 2006) and found segment on the 1918 flu pandemic and the bird flu to be very informative for the average person. It does a great job of describing many of the issues in a way that everyone can comprehend. You can watch the segment at the link below. THe file is in Quicktime, Real Video and Microsoft Media formats.
NOVA | scienceNOW | 1918 Flu | PBS:
I highly recommend it and think just about everyone in the general public will find it informative.
Technorati Tags: avian flu, bird flu, sciencenow
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In another recent deal, Biota, an Australian company has entered into a deal with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop and commercialize Biota’s nucleoside analogues for treatment of Hepatitis C.
PharmaLive: Biota and Boehringer Ingelheim Complete US$102 Million Licence for HCV Program :
The deals is worth $102 million to Biota based on meeting certain milestones. Biota would be responsible for discovery research and Boehring Ingelheim would be responsible for development and commercialization.
Hepatitis C virus(HCV) is a long standing target for many companies and one that hasn’t paid off yet. Although there are a couple of treatments for it, they are biotech products that require weekly injections. The hunt for a oral drug has not yet been successful. I remember work being done on this at Bristol-Myers Squibb way back in 1994. It would indeed be a major step forward since HCV infects approx. 170 million people and an additional 3-4 million are newly infected each year. Of these, approx. 4.1 million are in the US and of these 3.2 million are chronic.
Other Sources
Hepatitis C: Fact Sheet | CDC Viral Hepatitis
Technorati Tags: Biota, Boehringer Ingelheim, Hepatitis C
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Actelion is going to acquire Cotherix for $425 million in another recent pharmaceutical deal.
PharmaLive: Actelion Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire US-Based CoTherix, Inc.:
Again this deal is at a large premium; 72% over the closing price approx. a month ago. The main product from CoTherix is Ventavis (iloprost) an inhaled treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH).
This is another case where companies with a long-standing relationship eventually ends up in an acquisitions. Again the deal makes sense from a strategic point of view since both have a focus on PAH but I tend to think that again the price may have been too high.
Technorati Tags: Actelion, Cotherix, pharma M&A, pharmaceutical deals, iloprost, Ventivis
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I should have posted this earlier but I decided to take some time off and relax over the Thanksgiving holiday and not post. I needed some down time and besides, the college basketball season got off to e flying start with several tournaments and it was great to just relax and watch some good college basketball.
I’m working on several posts and will be back on a more regular posting schedule now.
Hope everyone in the US had a Happy Thanksgiving.
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There has been lots of press recently about how the new Democratically controlled congress could impact the drug and biotech industry. Many of those I’ve read have a negative outlook and appear to me to focus on the negative without talking about what the possibility of these coming fruition. Here’s just one example:
newsobserver.com | Drug companies going on defense
Although the Democrats have a narrow majority, they do not have enough votes to override a presidential veto. I think we will see many more vetoes in the next two year and many of these will likely be concerned with the prescription drug and biotech industries.
Here are just a few of the issues I think Congress will attempt to deal with.
• Biogenerics
• Vaccine manufacturers protection from liability
• Add the ability for the government to negotiate pricing for medicare drugs
• Importing of Canadian drugs
• Drug safety in general including
• Food safety
All of these are complicated issues and SHOULD involve folks on both sides talking about what they can do to make it better for the majority of Americans. However, I am fearful that it will turn into the usual finger pointing and trying to protect turf and profits without regard for what is best for the majority.
For a decent article on the biogenerics issues check out this article in the LA Times.
Generic biotech drugs backed - Los Angeles Times
Technorati Tags: congress, drug cost, drug price, drug safety, food safety
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