Pharmaceutical News

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd news.
Date Posted: 09 September 2009

Results Presented at Leading Global MS Congress Jerusalem, September 8, 2009 – Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) today announced that new research data furthering the clinical understanding of its diverse multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment franchise will be presented at the 25th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Dusseldorf, Germany, September 9-12, 2009. Featured presentations and abstracts will include new data on COPAXONE®, the global leading treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), as well as on the company's compounds in advanced development. "For nearly two decades Teva has supported the MS community and our ongoing commitment to research and development will continue to provide effective MS treatments while maintaining safety as well as contribute to a greater understanding of the disease," said Moshe Manor, Teva's Group Vice President, Global Branded Products. "Our dedication has not only brought forth the world's leading MS treatment, COPAXONE®, but we are looking forward to continually support the MS community through our evolving pipeline, led by oral laquinimod." Teva will present data on the effect of COPAXONE® on the Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) from the longest ongoing prospective study of an immunomodulatory therapy in RRMS. In addition, Teva and Active Biotech (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC: ACTI) will present data on laquinimod, its investigational oral, once-daily, immunomodulating compound being developed for the treatment of RRMS. New data on ATL/TV1102, a second generation antisense inhibitor of CD49d, a subunit of VLA-4, for the treatment of RRMS patients, will be presented as well.
Platform Presentations/Poster Sessions* COPAXONE® Clinical Studies ? Characterization of signal transduction pathways involved in glatiramer acetate (copolymer-1, Copaxone)-induced type II monocyte differentiation (Young Researcher's Session I, September 9) ? CD161/CCR6 (IL-17 associated) expression in relapsing multiple sclerosis: effect of glatiramer acetate on immune regulation (Poster #276, September 10) ? Improvement on the Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score after 10 and 15 years of glatiramer acetate treatment (Poster #415, September 10) ? Glatiramer acetate induced Foxp3 regulatory T-cells contribute to its therapeutic effect in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (Poster #638, September 11) Laquinimod ? Anti-inflammatory pathways activated by laquinimod in CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD19+ and NK peripheral blood cells subtypes of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients (Poster #264, September 10) ? Reduced inflammation, demyelination and axonal damage after therapeutic laquinimod treatment in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (Poster #441, September 10) ? Long-term open extension of oral laquinimod in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis shows favorable safety and sustained low relapse rate and MRI activity (Poster #443, September 10) ? The effect of laquinimod on lymphocyte VLA-4 properties under shear flow conditions (Poster #628, September 11) ? Laquinimod induces up-regulation of neurotrophins in serum of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (Poster #783, September 11) ? The effect of laquinimod on the distribution of monocyte subsets (Poster #808, September 11) ATL/TV1102 ? Prediction of optimal dosing regimen for TV-1102, a novel anti VLA-4 antisense drug (Poster #435, September 10)
* Does not include all Teva sponsored studies featured at ECTRIMS
About COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) COPAXONE® is indicated for the reduction of the frequency of relapses in RRMS, including patients who have experienced a first clinical episode and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis. The most common side effects of COPAXONE® are redness, pain, swelling, itching, a lump or an indentation at the site of injection, weakness, infection, pain, nausea, joint pain, anxiety, and muscle stiffness. COPAXONE® is now approved in 52 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Israel, and all European countries. In North America, COPAXONE® is marketed by Teva Neuroscience, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ:TEVA). In Europe, COPAXONE® is marketed by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and sanofi-aventis. COPAXONE® is a registered trademark of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
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arGEN-X BV news.
Date Posted: 10 September 2009

Rotterdam, The Netherlands, September 10th 2009 – arGEN-X BV, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of human antibodies using its proprietary SIMPLE Antibody™ platform, today announced the successful first closing of its Series A equity financing round. The Company raised EUR 9.5million (~ USD 13.6 million) from a syndicate of leading life science investors. The financing round is one of the largest of its kind in the last 12 months. The deal was co-led by Forbion Capital Partners (The Netherlands) and LSP (Life Sciences Partners – The Netherlands). Christina Takke for Forbion Capital Partners and John de Koning for LSP have joined the arGEN-X Supervisory Board. Other members of the syndicate are KBC Private Equity (Belgium), BioGeneration Ventures (The Netherlands) and existing shareholders Erasmus MC Biomedical Fund and Thuja Capital Healthcare Funds. arGEN-X will use the proceeds to further develop the Company’s proprietary, unencumbered SIMPLE Antibody™ engine and to continue to build a proprietary pre-clinical antibody product portfolio. arGEN-X’s SIMPLE Antibody™ platform yields monoclonal antibodies which combine an unparalleled functional diversity against human disease targets with best in class human germline homology. arGEN-X’s SIMPLE Antibodies™ are generated in vivo, starting from active immunization, and exhibit ultra high starting affinities and potencies without the need for further engineering. The arGEN-X platform has the potential to rapidly create exciting product candidates both against novel therapeutic targets and against targets where standard antibody approaches fail to generate an optimal lead diversity. Christina Takke, PhD, Principal at Forbion Capital Partners commented: “We are impressed with the quality of the arGEN-X management team, their solid business approach and outstanding achievements to date. The current financing round will allow arGEN-X to unlock the real value of its technology. Forbion is very pleased to support arGEN-X’s future plans in the highly attractive monoclonal antibody space.” John de Koning, PhD, Partner at LSP continued: “We are impressed by arGEN-X’s SIMPLE Antibody™ platform, its strong proprietary position and its ability to efficiently generate gold standard, human antibodies as demonstrated by the Company’s lead program. We believe arGEN-X is well positioned to play an important role in tomorrow’s human monoclonal antibody market.” Peter Verhaeghe, Chairman of the Board of arGEN-X added: “We are very pleased with this significant equity financing, one of the largest early stage investments in our sector in the past year. arGEN-X’s ability to raise this significant financing from such a high quality investor syndicate in a very difficult financial market is a strong vote of confidence in and a testimony to the tremendous value creation potential of the Company and its Team. arGEN-X is now well positioned to execute its business plan over the next two years.”  
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PharmiWeb Solutions news.
Date Posted: 07 September 2009

PharmiWeb Solutions has this week been formally selected as one of the Top 100 tech/media companies in the UK.

Europe-Unlimited, Europe’s leading event organisers for investors and technology companies, today revealed its 2009 Tech Media Invest Top 100 list, in association with The Guardian, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Kemp Little.

The Tech Media Invest Top 100 showcases the hottest emerging and most innovative companies that are developing new ways to serve businesses and consumers, and have the potential to radically change the shape of the technology and media industry.

Companies were selected on a range of factors including: financial performance, innovation, management, global strategy, and ecosystem integration. The task of narrowing the myriad hopefuls down to the final 100 was undertaken by the Tech Media Invest Advisory Board, with members drawn from organisations such as: Intel Capital, Microsoft, BSkyB and leading venture capital firms like Balderton Capital and Amadeus.

Commenting on the news, PharmiWeb Solutions' Chief Executive, Paul Hartigan, said: "We're excited at being included in the Tech Media Invest Top 100. In the current climate, it's great to know that there are at least 100 success stories out there, and we're proud to be counted amongst them – and I have to thank our team, our customers and partners for making that possible". More information:

Contact Paul Hartigan, PharmiWeb Solutions: paul.h@pharmiweb.com Links: PharmiWeb Solutions The Guardian – Tech Media Invest The Guardian – Tech Media Invest Top 100 Europe Unlimited – Tech Media Invest Top 100
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Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain news.
Date Posted: 08 September 2009

A pharmacist who cut the medication errors of elderly patients moving between care settings by 70 per cent has just won the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) award for a significant contribution to medicines safety 2009.
Margaret Ledger-Scott, Clinical Director of Medicines Management and Chief Pharmacist for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, led the team project which was announced today as the first winner of the award. The new RPSGB award was given today at the Society’s annual conference, the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester. It will be presented annually and has a focus on specific improvements in medicines safety in Great Britain with documented benefits for patients. The winning initiative saw the introduction of a patient healthcare book which reduced medication errors from 72 per cent to two per cent when patients were discharged from hospital. It was supported by three hospital consultants, three clinical pharmacists from the acute medical wards and 14 GPs and practice nurses from four GP surgeries. The booklet was used by patients with chronic diseases with more than two hospital admissions in the past year and held information on all aspects of the patient’s health and treatment. This scheme is still being used in clinics today and Margaret is now working with the Strategic Health Authority to develop the idea for NHS north east. On winning the award she said; “I was absolutely astonished to find out I was the first to win the award. Particularly because patient safety is at the top of the NHS agenda and I imagine the quality of entries was high. “You are just working away and don’t realise the effect your work will have. It is not a magic book but it’s really about involving patients as the number one person in the care process. It’s about making them aware that errors can be made and empowering them to have control over their own medication. “Patients were very enthusiastic about what this scheme did for them and were delighted with the difference it made to their quality of life. “ RPSGB Chief Executive and Registrar Jeremy Holmes said; “I am extremely proud on behalf of the profession to recognise the excellent work that Margaret and her team have done in improving the lives of these elderly patients through reducing medication errors – and therefore the risk of harm. “This award was introduced to highlight important innovations in the field of medicines safety and I believe it will provide a platform for excellence in this area which we can continue to share and learn from.”  
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Ark Therapeutics Group plc news.
Date Posted: 07 September 2009

London, UK, 4 September 2009 – Ark Therapeutics Group plc ("Ark" or the "Company") today announces that it has received positive feedback from a formal scientific advice meeting with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency ("MHRA") regarding the pre-clinical toxicology and Phase I trial requirements for EG013, an adenovirally mediated VEGF based product being developed to treat severe foetal growth restriction ("FGR"). The MHRA commented on the nature of the pre-clinical models, toxicology programme and the design of a Phase I trial.   The MHRA concluded that the choice of species and overall design of the toxicology programme, including a series of in vitro studies using human placenta, are suitable to support a Phase I study. The nature and quality of the proposed vector are also suitable, and the release characteristics for the vector were clarified. The outline design of the Phase I study was considered suitable for a first-in-man study, and the entry criteria were clarified.   Severe foetal growth restriction is often a terminal condition in which insufficient blood supply to the placenta results in serious growth retardation, leading to premature death or undesired termination of a baby or long term neurological problems in surviving infants. The problem is usually first diagnosed around 20 weeks into pregnancy and at present there is no effective treatment.   Results from the first two trials of EG013 in a pre-clinical model of placental blood flow have shown that a single treatment with EG013, given directly into the mother's uterine artery, increased blood flow to the placenta by 25%, and that the effect was maintained for 50 days. Biodistribution data have shown no long term presence of the vector in the foetal tissues, as is essential for this form of gene therapy. If this efficacy is confirmed in human studies, a therapy with this magnitude and duration of effect could allow the foetus to grow satisfactorily to a stage where caesarean delivery of a healthy baby could be reliably performed. Ark has chosen the short form of VEGF-D as the most suitable agent to be used in FGR. The gene for this agent will be delivered using the standard Ark adenoviral platform, as developed in the Company's Kuopio centre. Work on this project is continuing in both Finland and the UK.   Foetal growth restriction, in its various forms, affects approximately 60,000 babies in the USA and Europe. The work is being undertaken as a collaboration between Ark's scientists at University College London (UCL) and the UCL Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In addition, Ark has formed a collaboration with the Department of Maternal and Foetal Medicine at the University of Manchester, to utilise their expertise in assessing the effect of EG013 on human placenta in vitro.   Commenting on the meeting with the MHRA, Dr David Eckland, Director of Research and Development at Ark, said: "Foetal growth restriction is a very distressing condition and EG013 has already shown early signs of promise. The meeting with the MHRA is very encouraging and allows us confidently to continue the development of EG013 through the pre-clinical stage to a Phase I human study."   Dr Nigel Parker, CEO of Ark, added: "We are very pleased to receive this input from the MHRA. Their support is further validation of our gene-based medicine technology and expertise and we look forward to progressing this programme with our collaborators."
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Axon Communications news.
Date Posted: 11 September 2009

European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain (EFIC) Congress, Lisbon (10 September 2009): Although 95% of chronic pain patients are suffering pain after a year of treatment[1], 64% believe they are taking the most appropriate medication and over half (58%) still believe that everything possible is being done to help them, according to the results of a one-year survey of patients with chronic pain, presented today at the EFIC Congress. These results demonstrate that a high proportion of patients accept chronic pain as a permanent part of their lives that cannot be challenged, despite the suffering it causes them.
The new survey, entitled PainSTORY (Pain Study Tracking Ongoing Responses for a Year), is the first of its kind to track the impact of ongoing chronic pain on patients’ lives over the course of a year, and involved 294 patients in 13 European countries, including 25 patients from the UK. This survey was prepared by Ipsos MORI in association with, and sponsored by a restricted educational grant from, Mundipharma International Limited.
The research reveals that, one year on, chronic pain still controls the life of six in ten (62%) patients, with more than half (56%) of patients’ pain levels failing to improve. For 19% of patients, their pain has become even worse. Patients’ everyday life is affected most, with eight in ten (82%) respondents reporting that their pain has an impact on their quality of life. Patients highlight ongoing challenges associated with childcare, with 53% reporting difficulties in looking after their children at the end of the research compared to 47% at the beginning. The research also reveals that pain has a significant impact on patients’ ability to work: 65% worry that their pain will mean they will have to stop work completely.
Recounting her personal experiences, chronic pain patient, Sheila Richards, from Swansea commented, ‘I used to be a busy active person but with the onset of chronic pain my life changed drastically. I was kept in hospital for four weeks while they struggled to develop the most appropriate pain management regimen; it was the toughest time of my life. Even now, my life is very different and there are many things I cannot do, such as driving the 200-mile trip to see my daughter and new granddaughter in Rugby. No matter how much I want to go, with this pain I simply get too tired.’
These results provide compelling evidence to support the recent report by the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, which highlighted that of the 5 million people in the UK who develop chronic pain every year, only two-thirds recover, and called for “a major initiative to widen access to high-quality pain services”.[i] Currently more than 7.8 million people in the UK live with chronic pain, with back pain alone estimated to cost the UK economy £12.3 billion per year.[ii]
The emotional impact of pain is just as detrimental as its physical impact. Across the year, 44% of patients report feeling alone in tackling their pain and two thirds (65%) of patients feel anxious or depressed as a result of their pain. For 28% of patients, their pain is so bad that they sometimes want to die. Patients report feeling trapped by a pain which may vary in intensity, but continuously affects every aspect of their life.
Commenting on the findings of the survey, Ian Semmons, Chairman of Action on Pain, said: “This research presents an interesting insight into patients’ year-long journey through pain. We have been aware for some time that treatment of chronic pain was underresourced, but this research reveals the full shocking extent of the problem, that after 12 months patients are still trapped in an ongoing cycle of pain and a large proportion seem to be losing hope and simply accepting the severe impact their pain has on their lives”.
The survey findings point to a number of reasons for patients’ ongoing suffering. Many patients may not be receiving the appropriate medication to control their pain – despite 95% of patients suffering from moderate to severe chronic pain receiving treatment, only 12% had been prescribed strong opioid medication at the end of the year-long research, with 30% resorting to over the counter (OTC) medication to try to manage their pain either alone or in combination with other therapies.
Patients’ contact with physicians may also be less frequent than is needed. Despite the high proportion of patients continuing to suffer pain, the number of patients visiting a doctor declined over the course of the year from 83% at the beginning of the year to 70% at the end. Of the 68% of patients who consistently consulted a healthcare professional across the year, only 2% had consulted a pain specialist consistently throughout the year.
Experience of treatment side effec…
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Sanofi Pasteur news.
Date Posted: 08 September 2009

- Initial supply of 18 million doses of A(H1N1) influenza vaccine – Option for an additional 15 million doses   Lyon, France – September 7, 2009 – Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group (EURONEXT : SAN and NYSE : SNY), announced today it has signed an agreement with Butantan Institute for the production and supply of a vaccine against the novel A(H1N1) influenza virus for the Brazilian Government. This contract was announced during a state visit to Brazil by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.   The order from the Brazilian Ministry of Health provides for the initial supply of 18 million doses of the new A(H1N1) influenza virus vaccine: one million doses in final presentation and 17 million doses in bulk form. The agreement includes an option for an additional 15 million doses of A(H1N1) vaccine should the World Health Organization (WHO) request influenza manufacturers to switch production from the regular Southern Hemisphere Seasonal influenza vaccine to the Pandemic A(H1N1) vaccine.   Commenting on the agreement, Wayne Pisano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi Pasteur said: “Sanofi Pasteur and Butantan Institute are historical and successful partners who will bring a tailored response to public health needs in the context of pandemic influenza in Brazil. Our goal is to produce and deliver as quickly as possible the pandemic vaccine which meets the requirements defined by the Brazilian health authorities. We rely on our close collaboration with Butantan Institute to produce and deliver the vaccine that will most effectively help respond to the public health threat caused by pandemic and seasonal influenza in Brazil.”   The A(H1N1) vaccine antigen bulk will be manufactured in Sanofi Pasteur’s facility. Dosage requirements for the new vaccine are yet to be determined and will be based on clinical trial outcomes. Butantan Institute will perform A(H1N1) vaccine’s final formulation, filling and packaging in its Sao Paolo facility (Brazil). Butantan Institute will also be responsible for distributing A(H1N1) influenza vaccine as directed by Brazilian Health Authorities.   Sanofi Pasteur is a leading vaccine manufacturer in Brazil with a portfolio of 20 vaccines. Sanofi Pasteur is a trusted and longtime participant of public health in Brazil, going back to 1974 when the company produced and delivered 90 million doses of meningitis vaccine in record time to respond to an outbreak in Brazil. Since 1999, Sanofi Pasteur has been a partner of Butantan Institute for influenza immunization of the Brazilian elderly population. In 2008, Sanofi Pasteur responded to a yellow fever outbreak in Brazil by delivering four million doses of yellow fever vaccine at the request of local health authorities and United Nation agencies.
Sanofi Pasteur Influenza Vaccine Production Sanofi Pasteur operates influenza vaccine production facilities in Val de Reuil, France and in Swiftwater, Pennsylvania (United States). All Sanofi Pasteur influenza vaccine facilities have been designed and built to be able to switch from seasonal influenza vaccine production to pandemic influenza vaccine production. Sanofi Pasteur produces approximately 40 percent of the influenza vaccines distributed worldwide and in the U.S. produced more than 45 percent of the influenza vaccines distributed in the U.S. for the 2008-2009 influenza season. More information about
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Amgen news.
Date Posted: 10 September 2009

LEWISTON, Maine and THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ Amgen has signed on as the presenting sponsor of The Dempsey Challenge: A Journey for Hope, a cycling and 5K fundraising event scheduled for October 4 in Lewiston, Maine. The event supports The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center.
The sponsorship provides an opportunity to expand Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer((R)) initiative, which aims to increase awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients from prevention to education, and patient care to advocacy and financial support. The program will be prominently integrated into The Dempsey Challenge through a Breakaway from Cancer parade recognizing, honoring, and celebrating cancer survivors. A Breakaway from Cancer Survivor Award will be presented by television and film actor Patrick Dempsey to a recipient who best represents the program's passion for survivorship; individuals will be nominated through The Dempsey Challenge web site.
Additionally, a Breakaway from Cancer booth will be set up on site at The Dempsey Challenge's Health and Wellness Expo to share information about free programs and services available to people affected by cancer.
"Amgen welcomes the opportunity to support The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing," said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager of Amgen's Oncology Business Unit. "We are pleased to once again partner with Patrick Dempsey, a respected advocate in the fight against cancer and a long-time supporter of Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer initiative, to help connect patients with the support they need in the fight against cancer."
Dempsey Challenge participants may choose one of four cycling tours (10, 25, 50 and 100-mile distances) or a 5K (3.1 mile) run/walk. The event will serve as the primary fundraiser for the Dempsey Center, which provides free education programs and wellness services to cancer patients, families and caregivers.
"My mom is a four-time ovarian cancer survivor and I know first hand how dealing with cancer can impact someone's life," said Patrick Dempsey. "I am pleased that Amgen has stepped up to sponsor the main fundraising event for the Dempsey Center, which provides free support, education and wellness services to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers, complementing Amgen's national Breakaway from Cancer efforts."
Dempsey is scheduled to take part in the 50-mile tour along with pro cyclists George Hincapie, a five-time Olympian, and David Zabriskie, who holds the record for fastest time trial in Tour de France history.
"We are thrilled to be partners with an organization that is equally committed to the cancer community," said Dempsey Challenge event manager Wendy Tardif. "Amgen's reputation for patient education and support parallels our own mission and provides us with the opportunity to heighten our visibility internationally. We feel confident we will be able to reach our fundraising goal."
Although The Dempsey Challenge offers fundraising incentive opportunities for participants, no fundraising minimum is required. For more information, including an event schedule, registration tools and maps of event courses, please visit www.dempseychallenge.org.
About The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center Founded in March of 2008 by actor and Maine native, Patrick Dempsey, The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing provides free support, education and wellness services to enhance the quality of life of individuals, families and communities touched by cancer. The Dempsey Center strives to embrace the whole person including body, mind and spirit in a respectful, inclusive and healing environment. All of the Dempsey Center's services are provided free of charge and tax-deductible contributions are welcome. For more information, please visit www.dempseycenter.org.
About Breakaway from Cancer Founded by Amgen in 2005 as a complementary component to the company's sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California, Breakaway from Cancer strives to raise awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients from prevention to education, and patient care to advocacy and financial support. The initiative includes charitable partners the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, Patient Advocate Foundation, Prevent Cancer Foundation and The Wellness Community, and it also has joined forces with the Lance Armstrong Foundation and The Patrick Dempsey Center for Hope and Healing at Central Maine Medical Center. Learn more at www.breakawayfromcancer.com.
About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 198…
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Takeda news.
Date Posted: 10 September 2009

Osaka, Japan, September 10, 2009 – Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Osaka; President: Yasuchika Hasegawa, “Takeda”) announced today that it has introduced Cisco TelePresence™, -an advanced videoconferencing system providing both high-resolution visuals and a high-quality audio environment. Cisco TelePresence™ was provided by Cisco Systems G.K. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Edzard J.C. Overbeek, “Cisco”), and IBM Japan, Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Takayuki Hashimoto; NYSE: IBM, “IBM Japan”) provided support to introduce this videoconfereincing system at Takeda. . The Cisco TelePresence™ system now connects Takeda’s Tokyo Head Office, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America Inc.[*] (IL, U.S.A., “TPNA”), and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company[*] (MA, U.S.A., “Millennium”). Takeda is planning to install this system at more of its business sites across the globe, with the next sites being its Head Office in Osaka and Takeda Pharmaceuticals Europe, Inc. (London, U.K., “TPEU”)[*], where introduction is scheduled by the end of this year. [*] Wholly-owned subsidiaries of Takeda Unlike conventional videoconferencing equipment, Cisco TelePresence™ offers unique design configurations such as continuous presence, meaning that the tables and backgrounds in other parties’ conference rooms appear on the screen as if they were part of one’s own conference room. Additionally, life-size projections enable communication with other parties as if they were sitting face-to-face at the same table. Cisco and IBM Japan believe that Cisco TelePresence™ is a powerful tool to support cross-cultural communication, which requires speakers to interpret not only the words, but also the subtle messages conveyed by facial expressions and body language. By utilizing Cisco TelePresence™ solutions, Takeda expects to have more frequent and fluent communication with its various global subsidiaries, thereby further enhancing the quality and speed of its decision-making, while at the same time allowing for savings in time and money related to business travel.
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Greystone Associates news.
Date Posted: 10 September 2009

 (Amherst, NH) – Advances in medical technology over the past decade have made dealing with disease easier for a growing number of patients. Nowhere is this more evident than in the way medication is dispensed and administered. User-friendly designs and the availability of an increasing number of drugs in pre-filled devices and delivery systems are propelling acceptance of user friendly drug products that enable patients to self-medicate. Because of their ability to safely and reliably satisfy treatment protocols and compliance goals, these new products will have a significant impact on the future of drug delivery in general and self-administration in particular.
This trend is creating both risk and opportunity for drug makers and their device partners. “The recent escalation in new biological drugs indicated for chronic ailments is placing renewed emphasis on simple and reliable devices for the self-administration of prescription drugs,” explains George Perros, Greystone Associates Managing Director. “These factors are giving rise to a new generation of sophisticated, application-specific drug delivery devices designed to satisfy caregiver and patient preferences while addressing managed care initiatives and the formulation and shelf life limitations of new classes of therapeutic drugs.” Growth in self-administered drugs will be driven by several factors with strong underlying economic, demographic and managed care underpinnings. The availability of drugs capable of effectively treating chronic conditions will spur the introduction of new combination drug-device products designed to increase compliance and improve safety for the growing number of aging patients who will choose or be encouraged by managed care policies to self-medicate. The rapid acceptance of monoclonal antibody drugs for autoimmune diseases is an example of these converging dynamics at work. A new research study, Drug Delivery for Self-Administration: Devices, Drugs, Product Strategies and Forecasts, examines the growing trend toward drug self-administration, identifies the key players in each therapeutic segment, describes the regulatory and commercial environment, and assesses the dynamics of patient care that will affect market development. The report concludes that therapy-specific drug-device combination products will continue to expand as device designers and drug developers collaborate to create delivery systems that address the specific needs of end users. More information is available at www.greystoneassociates.org . About Greystone Greystone Associates is a medical technology consulting firm focused on the areas of medical market strategy, product commercialization, venture development, and market research. We assist medical and healthcare market participants in achieving their business objectives through the creation of detailed development strategies, product commercialization programs, and comprehensive market and technology research and analysis. Our market research publications are designed, researched and written to provide timely and insightful information and data on focused market segments, with the aim of providing market participants with the essential knowledge to refine and execute their marketing plans and financial targets.
Contact: Mark Smith Voice: 603-595-4340 Fax: 603-804-0466 www.greystoneassociates.org Source: Greystone Associates
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