Industry news

Over $500 Billion Invested in R&D by PhRMA Member Companies Since 2000

Robert Zirkelbach / Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Developing innovative, lifesaving medicines for patients is the sole focus of the biopharmaceutical industry. PhRMA member companies invested more than $50 billion in research and development (R&D) in 2013 and over half a trillion dollars since 2000. This represents the vast majority of all biopharmaceutical R&D spending – both private and government – in the United States. In fact, the pharmaceutical sector accounts for approximately 20 percent of all domestic R&D funding by U.S. businesses, supporting millions of jobs across the country.

Medical investment declining in U.S., rising in China

Cornelia Zou / BioWorld

With the global center of gravity shifting eastward and the world's most populous region increasingly wealthy, it should come as no surprise that Asia is gaining momentum in medical research. This advancement is taking place while the leadership role of the U.S. transforms into an important player in a multipolar research world.

China's Innovent banks $100M to cash in on the biosimilar boom

Damian Garde / Feirce Biotech

Innovent Biologics has raised $100 million in venture cash in hopes of becoming the premier maker of biotech drugs in its native China, advancing a pipeline of biosimilars and proprietary treatments.

New international standard to improve safety of medicines

FirstWorld Pharma

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published a guide to support the implementation of a new international standard for the safety monitoring of medicines in the European Union (EU). The so-called ISO ICSR standard improves the reporting of suspected side effects of medicines in Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs). The use of the new international standard will take effect on 1 July 2016.

Med tech IPO mania: 6 IPOs ready to raise $324M

Stacy Lawrence / Fierce Medical Devices

At least a half-dozen med tech companies are ready for an IPO in the coming weeks. Already, they have either set IPO terms or have launched on to an IPO road show to sell investors. The three that have set rough IPO dates all have done so for the end of January.

Top 10 med tech market movers in 2014

Stacy Lawrence / Fierce Medical Devices

A rising tide lifts all boats--that might be the most oft-repeated cliché to sum up market sentiment in the life sciences for the past few years. Biotech performance has been very, very good for three years, and med tech performance, while nowhere near as stellar, has been on its own upward trajectory as investors look for a safer way to make money in healthcare.

Strong dollar plus strong franc equals worries for global Big Pharma

Tracy Staton, FeircePharma

When it comes to currency, it's not been a good couple of weeks for multinational drugmakers. Switzerland's move to decouple the franc from the euro last week raised questions about the effects on Basel-based Roche ($RHHBY) and Novartis ($NVS). And now, Johnson & Johnson's ($JNJ) fourth-quarter results and 2015 forecast are triggering more foreign exchange worries.

India opens medical device industry to foreign direct investment

Ed Lane, FierceMedicalDevices

India's medical device industry will officially open Jan. 21 to unlimited foreign direct investment (FDI) as the government kicks off what is expected to be a year of vast changes in the way it regulates the products.

Health IT VC funding more than doubles in 2014

Katie Dvorak, FierceHealthIT

Healthcare technology had a great year for venture capital funding in 2014, raking in more than double the amount it did a year prior, according to a Mercom Capital Group report.

FDA to avoid regulating most wearables, seeking to reduce device accessory regulation overall

Varun Saxena, FierceMedicalDevices