Migenix: infectious ambitions in hepatitis

Migenix' CEO recently announced the company's plans to initiate a clinical combination clinical trial with celgosivir in treatment-naive hepatitis C patients. While this is further good news for the experimental drug's development, direct HCV inhibitors are currently perceived as the most promising developmental drug class, and competition in the hepatitis C market is thus expected to be fierce.

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Sanofi-Aventis/BMS: a Plavix plague on both their houses?

Canadian generics firm Apotex has received an approval from the FDA to launch a generic version of Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb's blockbuster heart drug Plavix. This is bad, although expected, news for the two pharma giants, which both need to stave off such generic threats. However, the companies are not going down without a fight, as Sanofi-Aventis' patent infringement filing shows.

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New personal care products: skin treatments go back to nature

Natural ingredients continue to be a key feature in new personal care products, as the latest launches recorded by the Productscan Online database illustrate. A hot soy oil manicure kit, a skin treatment made with organic soil mineral and an argan nut oil firming cream are among the personal care offerings reviewed in this month's round-up...

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Europcar's new owner shifts up a gear

The acquisition of Europcar has cost the French private equity firm Eurazeo more than many had predicted, and with good reason. Following a few years of damaging declines, the outlook is now bright for the global car rental market, and Europcar's strategy of expansion into North America and China is one many private equity firms would bet their money on. Jugoslav Stojanov reports...

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Gazprom/Petro-Canada: Baltic terminal project hints at global LNG potential

Russian gas giant Gazprom and Canadian major Petro-Canada are to proceed with construction of an LNG terminal on the Baltic Sea. Based on existing demand and infrastructure, the gas could be sold both on the North American as well as European markets. This brings arbitrage opportunities on top of long-term supply for the Canadian market, and marks a further step towards a truly global LNG market.

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Sanofi-Aventis/Apotex: olive branch acceptance to reduce generic threat

Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb have reached an agreement to settle a patent infringement suit with Canadian generics maker Apotex over the anti-platelet agent Plavix. As well as enabling the companies to avoid court proceedings, the settlement should delay the generic threat to Plavix - a possibility the pharma heavyweights' investors have already embraced judging by share price surges.

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Salads/sandwiches: Canadian market set for growth

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Transition Therapeutics: showing potential in hepatitis

Toronto-based Transition Therapeutics has posted positive 12-week data from a phase I/II trial investigating the safety and efficacy of HCV-IET in hepatitis C non-responders. However, although its results to date look promising, the drug candidate looks set to face stiff competition from other pipeline products, several of which appear to have a head-start.

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New household goods review: green growth in the household

Manufacturers are responding to a growing consumer concern for environmental issues with the launch of various household products touted as having green benefits. These include a biodegradable kitchen bag for food leftovers, and organic laundry sheets put in the washing machine in place of powder or liquid, as reported on Productscan Online.

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New household goods review: taking the heat out of the ironing

Growing consumer interest in air fresheners has prompted an influx of new products that not only fragrance a room, but provide additional benefits, as reported by Productscan Online. With the recent release of a plugin that projects a light show and a gel freshener whose container closes when it gets too hot, consumers have no excuse for less than fragrant smelling rooms.

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