Europe approves high-price gene therapy 
November 2nd, 2012
By Ben Hirschler LONDON | Fri Nov 2, 2012 7:59am EDT LONDON (Reuters) – European officials have approved the Western world’s first gene therapy drug from a small Dutch biotech company, in a milestone for the novel medical technology that fixes faulty genes.
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Meningitis death toll rises to 29 with fatality in Virginia
October 31st, 2012
Tweet Share this Email Print Exserohilum rostratum, a type of fungi, is seen in this handout image from the Centres for Disease Control, October 13, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Centres for Disease Control/Handout Wed Oct 31, 2012 3:18pm EDT (Reuters) – Another patient has died in Virginia after contracting fungal meningitis from potentially tainted steroid injections supplied by a Massachusetts company, the U.S.
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UCB’s next generation drugs take over after blockbuster expiry
October 29th, 2012
BRUSSELS | Mon Oct 29, 2012 2:39am EDT BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgian pharmaceuticals group UCB said on Monday that sales of its three new main products had for the first time overtaken those of its expiring blockbuster epilepsy treatment Keppra and retained its full-year guidance. UCB, which makes drugs targeted at diseases of the immune and central nervous systems, said on Monday sales of Cimzia, Neupro and Vimpat rose 50 percent to 665 million euros over the first nine months and were now treating about 382,000 patients.
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Sambazon disputes study on energy drink caffeine levels
October 26th, 2012
Fri Oct 26, 2012 6:18pm EDT (Reuters) – Sambazon, a California-based maker of fruit juices and protein drinks, said it contests a report in the December issue of Consumer Reports magazine stating that Sambazon’s energy drink had more caffeine than printed on its label. The study, released on Thursday, said Sambazon Organic Amazon Energy drink had 81 milligrams of caffeine per serving.
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Novo confident in heart safety of new insulin
October 26th, 2012
By Mette Fraende and Ole Mikkelsen COPENHAGEN | Fri Oct 26, 2012 7:23am EDT COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Novo Nordisk said it was confident about the safety of new ultra long-acting insulin degludec, after news a U.S. panel is to examine its heart risks sent the Danish group’s shares lower
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Novo shares drop on U.S. scrutiny of insulin drug
October 26th, 2012
COPENHAGEN | Fri Oct 26, 2012 4:26am EDT COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Shares in Denmark’s Novo Nordisk fell as much as 5 percent on Friday, after a U.S.
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Meningitis outbreak spreads to 18 states with South Carolina case
October 25th, 2012
Tweet Share this Email Print A sample of Cladosporium species, one of the fungi diagnosed in the fungal meningitis outbreak sweeping the United States, in Nashville, Tennessee on October 19, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Harrison McClary Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:34pm EDT (Reuters) – The deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis tied to tainted steroid medications from a Massachusetts company expanded to 18 states on Thursday with South Carolina reporting its first probable case of the disease
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U.S. panel advises all pregnant women get pertussis booster
October 24th, 2012
By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO | Wed Oct 24, 2012 1:16pm EDT CHICAGO (Reuters) – An advisory committee for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted on Wednesday to recommend that pregnant women be immunized against pertussis during each pregnancy in hopes of stemming a growing U.S. outbreak of the illness, also known as whooping cough
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Bristol-Myers results lag as Plavix sales evaporate
October 24th, 2012
Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:28am EDT (Reuters) – Bristol-Myers Squibb Co’s quarterly sales and earnings missed Wall Street expectations as cheaper generics nearly wiped out sales of its blood clot preventer Plavix, sending its shares down 2 percent in premarket trading. Global sales of Plavix, sold in partnership with French drugmaker Sanofi, plunged 96 percent in the third quarter to $64 million, the company reported on Wednesday. The pill was the world’s second-biggest-selling medicine until its U.S
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Independent monitor says Celgene cancer drug meets late-stage goals
October 23rd, 2012
Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:24am EDT (Reuters) – Independent safety monitors determined that Celgene Corp’s experimental cancer drug met the main goal of a late stage trial of improving progression-free survival in multiple myeloma patients who have relapsed or not responded to prior treatment.
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