What's going in Pharma Industry

• Pharmacopeia to cut 40% of its workforce that it is eliminating 64 positions as a part of its restructuring programming. Most of the eliminated employees are expected to leave in October. However the CEO of Pharmacopeia said that it would allow them to focus better on strategic initiatives.
• Acadia would reduce its workforce about half (50%) to 65 employees as a part of their strategic restructuring. The source said the company would focus its efforts on its four most advanced drug including pimavanserin (Phase III, Parkinson's disease psychosis) and it would continue the partnership with Allergen for glaucoma(Phase I).Acadia added that it will significantly decrease spending on its earlier-stage programmes.
• Pfizer reported Wednesday that it will close its manufacturing plant in Little Island, Ireland, and that 180 jobs will be cut as a result. The move comes after the drugmaker failed to find a buyer for the facility. The plant is expected to close by the end of 2009.

What would be the major reason for this retrenchment and close down?

May it affect other pharmaceuticals also?

Will it affect CROs?

Let the discussion starts...

Upcoming Drugs

In this title, I would like to write excerpt details of upcoming drugs in pharmaceutical market.
Note: The postings regarding pharmaceuticals are written from daily pharma industry news.

Compound --- Sponsor --- Indication
Clamelle (azithromycin) --- Actavis --- Chlamydia
UK approves Clamelle (azithromycin) as first over-the-counter (OTC*) antibiotic for Chlamydia**. MHRA*** announced that the pharmacist can dispense Clamelle to people 16 years of age and older who have tested positive for the bacterial infection and have no symptoms. Sexual partners of those who tested positive would also able to receive the treatment OTC. This OTC antibiotic is expected to available in the beginning later this year. Clamelle is the first time oral antibiotic is to be sold OTC in UK. Some experts said that the resistance to azithromycin is rare.
*OTC – Over-the-Counter drug that may be sold without a prescription and without a visit to a medical professional, in contrast to prescription drugs.
**Chlamydia – A sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria of the genus Chlamydia
***MHRA – Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency



Cleviprex (clevidipine) --- The Medicine Company --- Hypertension


FDA gave approval for intravenous Cleviprex (clevidipine) for the treatment of hypertension and the product is expected to be launched in September. Unlike some available intravenous hypertension treatments, Cleviprex is metabolized in blood and tissue itself rather than kidney and liver and it doesn’t accumulate in the body. Cleviprex is the first intravenous hypertension drug to receive US regulatory approval in 10 years.

Drugs got red signal

I would like to classify my previous topic "Views On Pharmaceuticals" into 3 in accordance with the market updates. They are,
1. Drugs got red signal --- banned (issued not approval letter) by FDA
2. Upcoming blockbusters --- expecting successful drug in market which shows effective result in trials.
3. Drug info. --- genral research information regarding drugs and treatment.

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Drug Got RED singal
Drug ---- Sponsor --- Indication
sugammadex --- Schering-Plough's --- anesthesia-reversal compound
FDA issued a not approval letter to Schering-Plough’s sugammadex. Sugammadex is an anesthesia-reversal compound. The not approval letter showed citing concerns about hypersensitivity/ allergic reactions. But the same product was approved by EU and it was marketed in the name of Bridion.