New strategy could benefit both patients and the infertility industry

A government agency that regulates UK fertility clinics has called for a national strategy to reduce the number of multiple births that occur after fertility treatment. One way of reducing multiple births is to reduce the administration of fertility drugs, which would drive down sales volume. However, this could result in more IVF cycles and may ultimately lead to higher revenues in the sector.

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GlaxoSmithKline: cardio specialist to fill Avandia void

Privately-owned specialty pharma company Reliant Pharmaceuticals holds the US license to Lovaza, a dyslipidemia therapy which is thought to have provided the primary motivation for GlaxoSmithKline's $1.65 billion takeover offer. The deal will help GSK to recover sales following a loss of revenue from its diabetes drug Avandia, which has been associated with an increased risk of heart attack.

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GlaxoSmithKline: will novel device convince physicians?

GlaxoSmithKline has reported positive results for Veramyst nasal spray in the treatment of allergy symptoms for patients 12 years and older with perennial allergic rhinitis. Although the positive data will help sales, commercial success will also depend on how well its novel device can convince physicians to switch patients over from rival products with similar pharmacological properties.

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GlaxoSmithKline: strengthening R&D in anti-infectives

In response to a relatively empty anti-infectives pipeline and increasing competitive pressure from other companies active in this market, GlaxoSmithKline has entered into a collaboration with Anacor Pharmaceuticals for the development of novel antibacterials and antivirals. The deal highlights GlaxoSmithKline's continued interest in the anti-infectives area.

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GlaxoSmithKline: successor to Jean-Pierre Garnier faces difficult task

Aged 43, Andrew Witty, GlaxoSmithKline's head of European pharmaceutical operations, is the youngest of the three candidates who had been vying for the position of CEO. His appointment points to a generational change taking place across the leading pharmaceutical players, and he will be expected to lead the company into greater success in bringing innovative products to market.

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HIV market: set to undergo dramatic changes over next decade

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Significant changes in store for growing HIV market

Worth $8 billion in 2006, the HIV market is expected undergo significant changes as it expands to an estimated $11.5 billion in 2016. Patent expiries on key drugs and product launches in new and existing classes are set to reshape the HIV treatment paradigm. One player set to lose out as its ageing HIV portfolio loses its patent protection is the current market leader, GlaxoSmithKline.

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High Court's ruling on Alzheimer's drugs may have global implications for patient power

The recent High Court challenge to UK drug watchdog the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's decision not to fund treatment for patients with mild Alzheimer's disease is a prime example of increasing patient power. If the court's ruling quashes the decision, it will have huge implications not only for Alzheimer's sufferers in the UK, but also for patient empowerment worldwide.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb: Orencia is rejected by NICE in the UK

The decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to reject Bristol-Myers Squibb's Orencia has dealt a blow to many rheumatoid arthritis patients in the UK. However, Datamonitor expects that Orencia will overcome this initial upset in the UK and go on to achieve blockbuster status in this indication, driven in particular by strong sales in the US.

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GlaxoSmithKline: Avandia hits half-year financials hard

GSK has reported first half sales of $22.2 billion, a drop of 2.4% compared to last year. The sales decline reflects the impact of a study linking the company's bestselling type II diabetes drug Avandia with an increased risk of heart attack, plus the genericization of several key drugs. However, impressive growth from GSK's Advair franchise has helped the company offset this downturn in sales.

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