Industry news

Watch-Out Tech Industry, Biotech is on the Rise in San Francisco

Jessica Torres / BioTech Now

When thinking about the industries that make up San Francisco’s vibrant economy, biopharma is often overshadowed by the Bay Area’s reputation as a tech hotspot. But in reality, health care outpaced the tech sector in 2014 by generating over $28 billion in economic activity and employing over 20% of San Francisco workers. The Bay Area is a hub of innovation for growing biotechs looking to connect with the right investors, which is why BIO chose to host its annual BIO Investor Forum in San Francisco again this year.

New Brazilian Biodiversity Law Provides Opportunities for Innovation

Eleena Korban / BioTech Now

Brazil has a large share of the world’s biodiversity, which can be better explored since the new Act. No 13.123/15, recently sanctioned by the President. This law implements measures that can contribute to greater access to Brazilian biodiversity and change the current scenario of innovation originated from natural products.

Big Pharma feels the pain in China, with AZ delivering the only 10%-plus sales hike

Tracy Staton / Fierce Pharma

Not so long ago, China was such a promising pharma market that drugmakers recruited hundreds of new sales reps to race after a share. But growth is slowing there now, and drug companies are feeling it.

Med tech megamergers haven't translated to massive layoffs--at least not yet

Stacy Lawrence / Fierce Medical Devices

None of the giant med tech acquisitions that have closed recently have resulted in a reduction in employee count yet. Not Medtronic-Covidien, Zimmer-Biomet, nor Becton Dickinson-CareFusion. But the rumors are already swirling on where all the anticipated cost savings and redundancies will be found. That's according to the latest jobs data from EP Vantage.

Influential medical associations, not just docs, get big bucks from Big Pharma

Eric Palmer / FeircePharma

There have long been concerns about the influence on doctors who receive payments from the pharma companies whose meds they prescribe, something doctors hotly deny. But it is not just doctors who are the beneficiaries of the billions of dollars spent each year by drugmakers. It is also the medical associations that create the guidelines that can influence which kinds of drugs are in favor at any given time.

With more consolidation on tap in generics, who's next to buy and be bought?

Carly Helfand / FiercePharma

Generics players are bulking up to gain leverage with drug distributors, which buy up their knockoffs for eventual sale to patients, Bloomberg notes. And after some recent partnering and dealmaking within the distributor space, there are only four major buyers left.

06 August 2015

Neothetics Announces Reaffirmation of Patents and Termination of Reexamination Challenge by United States Patent and Trademark Office

Neothetics, Inc.  (Nasdaq:NEOT), a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for the aesthetic market, today announced the reaffirmation of all claims of two of its issued patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and termination of the reexamination challenges that were initiated by a third party.

Drug sales expected to top $1.3T in 2018

Eric Palmer / FeircePharma

Drug sales crossed a significant metric last year. They grew past $1 trillion. And for those industry insiders thinking global sales will taper off, a new report says think again. Expect sales to top $1.3 trillion in 2018.

After years on the slide, things are looking up in biopharma R&D, report says

Damian Garde / Fierce Biotech

Whether looking at Phase III success, drug launches or product sales, biopharma is hitting its stride in R&D, according to new analysis from Thomson Reuters. And, as the industry evolves its approach to research and regulators speed up the review process, the latest upswing could be a sign of better days ahead for drug developers.

Company builds plant for 3DP pill making as it nails first FDA approval

Eric Palmer / FeircePharmaManufactoring

Aprecia Pharmaceuticals is building a small manufacturing facility in Blue Ash, OH, but instead of all of the usual accoutrements of drugmaking, the company will fill it with three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology, technology it is using to make quick-dissolve, easily ingested formulations of highly prescribed high-dose medications.