'Conservative' pharmaceutical industry slow to take advantage of online marketing opportunities

While the internet has altered the landscape in the retail sector and revolutionized the airline industry, pharmaceutical companies have been slow to take advantage of the marketing opportunities offered by the medium. With existing sales and marketing strategies widely considered unsustainable, the industry needs to evolve and engage with its customers online, or it risks being left behind.

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AAN 2010: late-stage pipeline candidates take center stage in migraine

In the wake of Imitrex's and Topamax's patent expiries, announcements at this year's American Academy of Neurology meeting focused firmly on the next major breakthroughs for the acute and prophylactic migraine markets. Pooled data for candidates from Allergan and Merck & Co demonstrated impressive potential, suggesting renewed hope for sufferers.

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AAN 2010: new treatments address unmet needs in Alzheimer's and epilepsy

A number of leading drug makers used this year's meeting of the American Academy of Neurology to present new data for promising pipeline candidates. Despite promising results, however, Datamonitor believes that the epilepsy drugs will struggle to find their place in the market. Moreover, the positive Phase II data for Baxter's potential Alzheimer's therapy Gammagard do not guarantee later success.

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AAN 2010: spotlight shines on Novartis' and Merck KGaA's oral MS candidates

Datamonitor attended this year's American Academy of Neurology conference, where developments in multiple sclerosis took precedence for the third consecutive year. Both Novartis and Merck KGaA presented new data for their pipeline candidates, while Acorda used the meeting as a platform to share data for its symptomatic treatment Ampyra, which was recently approved by the FDA.

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Abbott: 3,000 jobs axed as synergies with Solvay are realized

Following the acquisition of Solvay, Abbott Laboratories plans to lay-off 3,000 global workers. The job cuts are part of Abbott's drive to achieve long-term goals and improve efficiencies, while at the same time increasing sales and per-share earnings. The company's broader strategy is to increase access to emerging markets and diversify its products in the hope of increasing industry growth.

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Abbott: safeguarding market leadership through elagolix deal

Global healthcare firm Abbott has boosted its gonadotropin releasing hormones pipeline through a deal with Neurocrine for the continued development of new promising candidate elagolix. The partnership is favorable for both parties, with Abbott seeking to maintain its endometriosis market leadership after Lupron's patent expiry in 2014.

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Abu Dhabi moves towards generic prescribing

Earlier this year, the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi made an unprecedented move towards encouraging the use of generic drugs by forcing doctors throughout the emirate of Abu Dhabi to prescribe by molecular name. However, while intended to boost generic uptake, the law may simply see the decision to prescribe expensive branded drugs taken from doctors and given to pharmacists.

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ACR 2009: Benlysta outshines disappointing rheumatoid arthritis data

Datamonitor recently attended this year's American College of Rheumatology Annual Conference in Philadelphia. No ground-breaking data for rheumatoid arthritis therapies were presented; instead, systemic lupus erythematosus stole the limelight. Human Genome Sciences' Benlysta in particular generated a stir, being the first drug in this indication to generate positive data at Phase III.

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Actelion/GlaxoSmithKline: future of innovative orexin drug class in doubt

Actelion and GlaxoSmithKline have discontinued development of their Phase III insomnia candidate, almorexant, following a review of clinical data. The drug, an orexin receptor antagonist, had been widely regarded by leading sleep disorder specialists as an innovative and promising insomnia treatment. Termination of the drug's development casts doubt over the future of the drug class.

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Acute stroke: AstraZeneca drug candidate offers blockbuster potential

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