Roche Plans on Being in the Thick of Heating Immunotherapy Market

During a recent interview, Roche Chief Executive Severin Schwan indicated that the company would likely continue its focus on smaller-scale deal making.  The company will continue to focus on smaller acquisitions of “innovative companies” such as its recent purchase of Intermune.  “We have to be very consistent in our approach to M&A,” Schwan noted in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

What the executive also addressed in that interview was the emerging area of immunotherapy—a space which Roche reportedly plans on moving five experimental drugs into clinical trial this year.  With companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck and AstraZeneca all developing new therapies in this space, the competition has become intense.  Some analysts project that the industry as a whole could be worth as much as $35 billion annually in the future. 

Schwan believes this race will be decided by those with an edge in R&D.  “The winners and losers in the long term, I am absolutely sure, will be [decided by] those who do the clever combinations,” he told the newspaper. 

We’ll have more on the latest in immunogenicity at the 15^th Annual Immunogenicity for Biotherapeutics event. Join us October 20-22 in Boston, MA. Download the agenda to see what’s on tap.

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Countries creating laws to lower drug prices

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting look at how some countries are creating laws to combat the high prices of life saving medications. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines reduced the drugs prices when the manufactures of several drugs failed to lower their prices to comply with a new law. The article states that drug companies have looked to emerging markets as a place to make up for the falling revenue in places such as the US, Europe and Japan. The Philippines new actions could cost large Pharma companies between $146 million and $208 million. Read the full article here.

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IOM speaks out on doctors fees and gifts

The Wall Street Journal Medical blog reported last week that the Institute of Medicine has made a statement about the conflicts of interest in medical practices, education and research.

Even though there is no hard evidence that suggests an influence when it comes to industry payments and gifts to doctors, they've still made suggestions that are strict in nature. They suggested:

• That doctors should refuse all fees and gifts offered to them
• There should be a public website established to disclose all industry payments that are made.

Read the full story here. What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel that doctors are influenced by the gifts and payments they receive from companies?

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The Push Approach is no Longer Effective for Pharma Sales Reps

According to recent findings from ZS Associates found in this article in the Wall Street Journal blogs, pharma sales rep are experiencing declining success of reaching doctors in sales visits.

Sales calls and visits are no longer cutting it, and the pharma industry spends roughly $2 billion a year on salaries and expenses for sales reps. The economic pressure has caused doctors to see more and more patients, making it increasingly harder for sales reps to push benefits of their products. This might be a chance for pharma sales teams to really rethink their strategy.

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