Thursday, October 29, 2009

Nabi BioPharm Begins Study on Nicotine Vaccine

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals announced that it is participating in an investigator initiated Phase IIb study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of NicVAX(R) (Nicotine Conjugate Vaccine) when co-administered with varenicline as an aid to smoking
cessation and relapse prevention. This study will be conducted by The Research
School CAPHRI of the Maastricht University Medical Center in Maastricht, The
Netherlands and will be funded primarily by The Netherlands Organization for
Health Research and Development and Maastricht University with Nabi providing
some additional support.

"In our proof-of-concept trial, NicVAX demonstrated that high levels of
anti-nicotine antibody in response to NicVAX immunization increases the ability
of smokers to quit smoking and remain abstinent," said Dr. Raafat Fahim,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Nabi Biopharmaceuticals.

For more on NicVax, please click here.


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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

CCPM and Others Urge Congress to Fix or Drop Biologics Provisions

According to this post on Reuters many organizations including the CCPM, several hundred many Americans, experts from the medical and researhc community, economists, and thought leaders have joined together appealing to Congress to fix the 12 year market exclusivity for biologics or drop it altogether.

There has been an on-going battle on this topic, and Annette Guarisco, CCPM Chairman mentions:

"Finding the right balance between incentives for innovation and timely access
to care means that Congress needs to fix or drop the current biogenerics provision. We call on Congress to take this opportunity to truly constrain costs to benefit all health care purchasers, and override the lobby of the big pharmaceutical and biotech companies."

Perhaps now that the The Coalition for a Competitive Pharmaceutical Market has joined the fight Congress will begin to listen.

If you're interested in networking with other professionals in the field of Biosimilars, join our LinkedIn Group here.


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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Should the FDA be allowed to regulate e-cigarettes?

The LA Times looks at the current debate over e-cigarettes. This device allows smokers to get their nicotine fix through a small, smokeless electronic cigarette shaped device. The US FDA believes that they should be able to regulate them, as it can prove as a new gateway device to target teenagers who could be turned on to cigarettes by their use.

What do you think about this drug deliver device? While it may help millions stop smoking, it may introduce millions more to a new way of consuming nicotine. There are other things, such as lollypops, that contain nicotine, that are not regulated by the FDA, so why should this smoke-free device face FDA regulation?


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Monday, October 26, 2009

Complimentary Webinar Archive Available: Overcoming the Challenges of Government Pricing, Compliance Reporting and Medicaid Rebate Processing

About the web seminar:
All pharmaceutical product manufacturers who sell to various agencies of the federal government and/or who participate in Medicaid, 340B, Medicare or other public sector reimbursement programs face significant requirements and challenges with respect to their government-mandated pricing calculations and compliance reporting processes. Huge penalties and fines can be levied for miscalculating or incorrectly applying the various government price types to government-contracted sales and/or for compliance reporting mistakes.

The Seminar will address the complexities and challenges associated with automating Government Pricing and Medicaid Rebate system(s) as well as the pros and cons of using a packaged-software approach versus a custom-development approach. An overview of a leading-edge enterprise solution, developed as a fully-integrated component of the SAP® Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System, will be presented, accompanied by a live software demonstration and followed by a Question & Answer discussion of the issues.

What you will learn:
• An appreciation of the historical and legal background and context for the government-mandated price calculations and compliance reporting requirements;
• An understanding of the various price types that must be calculated, used in sales transaction processing and reported under each corresponding government program;
• Why automating and managing these processes using a packaged solution, based upon a fully-integrated enterprise architecture, is the lowest risk and lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach;

About the speaker:

Sanjay Shah, C.P.A., is the President/CEO and Chief Solution Architect of Vistex, Inc., a global SAP Software Solution Partner.

Prior to founding Vistex, Mr. Shah spent several years as a Platinum Consultant in SAP America’s Professional Services Organization and in SAP AG’s Product Development Organization. That experience provided him with a comprehensive and unique understanding of the functionality gaps in SAP’s “core” offering as well as SAP’s product development strategy. Mr. Shah also worked in finance/accounting management at a major global manufacturing company.

Complimentary Archived Recording

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/286708561


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Friday, October 23, 2009

Should the FDA be sharing more about clinical trials?

According to the LA Times, the FDA could be providing more information about approved drugs with doctors and the public. While most of the information doctors use to prescribe medicine and information patients use to learn about the medicine, there's a lot of information that is left out about the drugs. The article points out a few cases in which the FDA doesn't share some of the road bumps that occurred in Phase III clinical trials, such as the drug being ineffective in some of the population.

What do you think? I think that the FDA should share all of the information they possibly can on a drug, and how the drug was accepted by different people's systems. If a drug barley passed the FDA approval, they should be required to share that too, as it could help doctors when prescribing it to individuals. Read the full article here.


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Monday, October 19, 2009

Biopharm Regulatory Reform Summit

Biopharm Regulatory Reform Summit

December 2-3, 2009 - Washington, DC

Impending legislation coupled with new FDA initiatives, leave many companies wondering what to expect as we head into 2010. Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical corporate decision-makers are seeking guidance on what they can do now to protect their business model in the short term and ensure its sustainability in the long term. The BioPharm Regulatory Reform Summit, held in Washington D.C. on December 2nd & 3rd, brings together the FDA, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and other senior industry executives to create a strategic action plan for 2010 to effectively respond to healthcare reform and the changing political and economic landscape.

Event Site: http://bit.ly/4EUQd0
Brochure: http://bit.ly/16q73f
Registration: http://bit.ly/2BOKUb


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Friday, October 16, 2009

PanThera Biopharma wins $1.6 million contract for botulism antidote research

Honolulu Advertiser reports today that The Department of Defense has been awarded a one-year, $1.6 million contract to Honolulu-based PanThera Biopharma for research into a small molecule antidote to treat botulism, the company announced today.
Advertisement

Medical countermeasures against botulism are biodefense priorities for protecting both military and civilian populations against bioterrorism, PanThera said on its Web site.

PanThera said its objective is to create a medical solution that is affordable, easy to use and store for stockpile.


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Thursday, October 15, 2009

Merck Extends Galapagos Discovery Deal

According to this article in Fierce Biotech Merck has decided to extend its research collaboration with Galapagos. The agreement earlier this year called for Galapagos to be responsible for the discovery and development of small molecule candidate drugs for atherosclerosis therapies. This extension shows Merck's commitment to fighting both cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Read the full article here.


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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Mark McClellan, Carolyn Clancy, and Jim Greenwood to Keynote

Impending legislation coupled with new FDA initiatives, leave many companies wondering what to expect as we head into 2010. Join the Biopharm Regulatory Reform Summit as Steven Kozlowski, MD, Director, Office of Biotechnology Products, FDA discusses the challenges in establishing a regulatory pathway for biosimilars. Quality, patient safety, and efficacy are all primary issues the FDA must focus upon in the review and approvals for these complex biologics. Dr. Kozlowski addresses these issues in addition to comparative effectiveness and factors to consider for drug development plans for products in the pipeline. Bring home regulatory insights to challenges with defining “biosimilars” and their scope, biosimilars’ regulatory pathway, and the latest on comparative effectiveness.

Don’t miss the keynote presentations from Mark McClellan, Senior Fellow, Director of the Engleberg Center for Healthcare Reform, Carolyn Clancy, MD, Director, AHRQ, and Jim Greenwood, CEO, BIO.

Join the Meet and Greet session with Jacquelyn White, Director, Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, CMS

In an era of personalized medicine, IIR’s Biopharm Regulatory Reform Summit provides a unique opportunity to interact with industry thought leaders focusing exclusively on the true downstream effects of reform on how biopharm does business. Join senior leadership for two days to create actionable strategies to respond to reform, protect profitability, and deliver patient driven care for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device executives.

2009 Faculty Highlights
• Dr. Mark B. McClellan, Senior Fellow, Director of the ENGELBERG CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE REFORM
• Carolyn Clancy, MD, Director, AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY (AHRQ)
• Jim Greenwood, CEO, BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION (BIO)
• Joseph Antos, Health Adviser to the Congressional Budget Office, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
• D. Bruce Burlington, MD, Pharmaceutical Product Development and Regulatory Affairs, Independent Consultant, former Executive Vice President Business Practices and Compliance, WYETH
• Jane Galvin, Managing Director, Regulatory Affairs, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD (BCBS)
• Julie K. Letwat, JD, MPH, Government and External Affairs, TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA
• Amy Miller, PhD, Director, Public Policy, PERSONALIZED MEDICINE COALITION
• Les Paul, MD, Vice President, Clinical and Scientific Affairs, NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL COUNCIL (NPC)
• Ian D. Spatz, Principal, ROCK CREEK POLICY GROUP and Senior Advisor, MANNATT HEALTH SOLUTIONS, formerly, Vice President, Global Health Policy, MERCK
• Dan Todd, Executive Director, Health Policy, EMD SERONO
• Myrl Weinberg, President, NATIONAL HEALTH COUNCIL
• Jacquelyn White, Director, OFFICE OF STRATEGIC OPERATIONS AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS, CMS


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Thursday, October 8, 2009

3M opens new Drug Delivery Plant in Singapore

3M, who is looking to capitalize on the growing amount of biomedical research taking place in Asia, has opened their first drug delivery R&D facility in Singapore. They're looking to contribute to the biomedical research already going on in the region, as well as partner with biotech companies who they can work with to leverage their worldwide connections. Read the full article here.

This is the global drug delivery partnerships meeting place, focusing on bringing together professionals seeking the latest strategies, industry updates, and networking opportunities to help position your company for a successful partnership/collaboration. Join us today on LinkedIn!


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Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Europe's Top 5 Biotech Hotspots

Fierce Biotech has compiled their list of the top 5 biotech hotspots in Europe.

They are as follows,

• United Kingdom

• Norway

• Sweden

• Germany

• Czech Republic

From Fierce Biotech:

This year, for the first time, FierceBiotech looked into the development scene solely in Europe to see which countries have hatched the best programs to support drug discovery and innovation. That doesn't mean simply listing the largest clusters. Switzerland has had one of the best track records in Europe for developing a homegrown drug development industry, but it's done it all with private capital and virtually no public support. Eastern European countries which have been late to the biotech party have the furthest to go to catch up. But in places like the Czech Republic and Hungary they're pushing ahead quickly, anxious to leapfrog into the global mainstream. All of these project initiatives bear close observation in the U.S., where public support for biotech has been a prominent feature in a slate of key states.

For more information about the countries chosen by Fierce Biotech, please visit the article.


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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Central Labs new expanded 2010 program now available

In 2010 the Central Labs event offers expanded program content to meet the needs of highly specialized clinical trial and outsourcing managers as well as those focused on vendor quality and data management. This year there is ample content designed to meet the specific needs of small and mid size biotech companies looking for new ways to streamline their clinical trials by improving the data and deliverables from their lab outsourcing partners.

To meet the needs of the rapidly evolving biopharmaceutical market, Central Labs will delve deeper into the operational challenges facing highly specialized clinical trial and outsourcing managers as well as vendor quality and data managers.

NEW FOR 2010:
• Over 80% biopharmaceutical speaking faculty share insights to current outsourcing and operational trends include:
→ Terri A. Robertson, MT (ASCP), MBA, Sr. Director, Operations, Global External Research and Development, Lilly Research Laboratories, ELI LILLY & COMPANY LABORATORIES
→ Troy Matthews, MBA, CPM, Senior Sourcing Manager, Clinical Services, JOHNSON & JOHNSON GLOBAL PHARMA R&D SOURCING
→ Julie De-Bus-Levy, Manager, Outsourcing and Contracts, ABBOTT LABORATORIES
→ Dr. James Watson – Co-discoverer of DNA double helix!
→ Over 40 new experts!

• Take home operational & outsourcing toolkits to achieve process efficiencies in trial operations
• Stay current with industry trends during therapeutic area operational roundtable working groups
• Over 27 hours of networking with faculty, advisory board and industry peers

Through the collective effort of our distinguished advisory board, sponsoring partners and loyal delegation, this year’s Central Labs event promises to provide your team with everything you need to improve process efficiencies, expedite clinical trials and achieve scientific excellence. Download the program agenda today!

We look forward to greeting you in February at the industry event of the year.

P.S. The earlier you register the more you save! Save up to $600 when you register now.


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Monday, October 5, 2009

New guidance draft document for REMS

The FDA issued a draft guidance on Wednesday, September 30, for industry on Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies or REMS. The guidance, which is called "“Format and Content of Proposed Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), REMS Assessments, and Proposed REMS Modifications” can be found here.


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Friday, October 2, 2009

Drug Delivery Partnerships 2010 agenda released!

The new program for Drug Delivery Partnerships (DDP) 2010 is now available. There are over 30 all new topics covering the hottest issues affecting your business NOW including:

• Healthcare Payment reform’s Potential Impacts on Payment, reimbursement and Innovation of Pharmaceuticals and Delivery Products
• Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Drug Delivery Investment Trends in the Current Economic Climate and Its Impact on Business Deals
• Understanding how Payers View and Manage the Medical
• Development of novel RNAi Compounds and Delivery Approaches
• Drug Delivery Opportunities in the Animal Health Market
• Maximize opportunities for Tomorrow - Tools for Evaluating and Negotiating in Emerging Markets
• Drug Delivery and Biosimilar Utilization
• Pipeline to Improve Product Value Calculations

Download the brochure here.

We look forward to seeing you Orlando!


This is the global drug delivery partnerships meeting place, focusing on bringing together professionals seeking the latest strategies, industry updates, and networking opportunities to help position your company for a successful partnership/collaboration. Join us today on LinkedIn!


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Thursday, October 1, 2009

What Criteria are Payers Using to Determine Drug Value? Value Driven Pharma Conference Highlights

Treading on unprecedented ground, this past April, CIGNA and Merck announced that they will provide performance-based pricing for two diabetes drugs. This performance-based contract was an industry “first” – linking discounts with improved medication adherence and health outcomes. This major effort by both companies, making the much imagined manufacturer-payer relationship model a reality, is being applauded by payers, associations and consumer groups alike as a model for the industry. With payers seeking innovation that supports the ultimate goal of cost-reduction and better patient health, the time is now for the manufacturer/payer relationship to move together toward aligning all incentives value-driven initiatives.

Which explains why we have received unprecedented response to the upcoming Value-Driven Pharma event scheduled for October 15-16, 2009 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.

Conference Highlights include:
• Keynote Address by Former Senator Tom Daschle with a “View From the Beltway: How Stakeholders Can Work Together to Demonstrate Value in The Best Interests of Patients, Policy & The US Healthcare System

• Keynote Address by Allan Korn, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer & Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs at the BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION, addressing avoiding the egregious excesses of the past. Is the best science and most compelling data of little interest if, at the end of the day, products derived from them are utterly unaffordable?

• Presentation by Cyndy Pigg, Executive Director & CEO, FOUNDATION FOR MANAGED CARE PHARMACY on measuring & defining value and how to effectively adopt a more comprehensive value based metric system

• Luis Gutierrez, Jr., President of Commercialization Services at COVANCE will speak to designing clinical studies to produce credible value date for third-party payers

• Three unique and valuable points of view on Tailored Therapeutics and Personalized Medicine by Led Paul, Vice President, Clinical & Scientific Affairs, NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL COUNCIL (NPC), Randy Vogenberg, Executive Director, Biologic Finance & Access Council Program at the JEFFERSON SCHOOL OF HEALTH , and Surya Singh, MD, Chief Medical Officer & Vice President, PROVENTYS

Visit www.valuedrivenpharma.com and take a moment to review the agenda.

With a comprehensive program, featuring an expert speaking faculty, including those listed above, representing the industry, payers, government and other healthcare insiders, register today to reconnect or meet with the industry pricing decision makers and both reassess and acquire the tools to remain profitable and competitive in this new “value-driven” world.

Send your entire Pharma team! For information on group discounts, please contact Aloycia Bellillie at abellillie@iirusa.com Note: No two discounts can be combined.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Gain the exposure you need for your business. Contact Susan Feigenbaum at 646-895-7478 or sfeigenbaum@iirusa.com for sponsorship inquiries


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