| Science Tough Roads Loom Ahead for U.S. Pharmaceutical Giants
Traditionally, one of the largest and most profitable industries in America has been pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical companies are interesting in that they make products that no one wants, but hundreds of thousands of people must have to survive. The pharmaceutical industry as we know it is due for some big changes. Last month, DailyTech reported that former Intel CEO Andrew S. Grove ripped the pharmaceutical industry for its underperforming research operations. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that high profile medications coming off patent between now and 2012 will result in a loss of about $67 billion USD in income for top U.S. pharmaceutical companies. That amount is about half what the pharmaceutical industry made in combined sales during 2007. Few will feel sorry for the declining sales of these pharmaceutical giants since many Americans are literally forced to decide between food and their life saving medications each month.
Genentech's Gamble
In the 12 years since Arthur D. Levinson took over as CEO of Genentech (DNA), the company has released seven new drugs, including three multibillion-dollar cancer treatments. But Wall Street types are still breathing down Levinson's neck, nagging him to come up with the next big idea. On Dec. 4, the pressure intensified when advisers to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration voted against approving Genentech's colon cancer drug, Avastin, for breast cancer. The company's stock plunged 10%. The need to innovate has led other pharmaceutical CEOs to hire consultants and craft new management strategies in a desperate effort to come up with more blockbusters. This approach irks the 57-year-old ex-biochemist. "I'm sick of the word 'innovation,'" he said earlier this year. As the drug industry grapples with patent expirations and a chronic lack of exciting drugs in the pipeline, Levinson faces a unique challenge—living up to his own track record.
'Man's best friend' could be even more so vs. cancer
If you check the dictionary for the word cancer, you will see one definition stating that it is a malignant growth. Malignant tumors invade and destroy healthy tissue. They may grow much faster than normal cells, and they may be carried to other parts of the body, where they grow and invade other tissues. Regardless of whether it is a person or pet, cancer is a scary diagnosis.There are many types of cancer, but humans and dogs share an extremely dangerous type known as a melanoma. Developed through the interaction of genes with the environment, melanoma arises from the pigment-producing cells of the skin and can spread to distant organs through the circulatory system. Melanoma is considered to be a dangerous type of cancer because of its rapid spread and resistance to chemotherapy. Treatment in pets and people is often not helpful, especially in later stages.Melanoma can frequently be found on a dog's skin, but when it is found in the mouth, it is especially of concern to veterinarians.
Cullen defends Harney on cancer crisis
A number of people in the health service need to take responsibility for the crisis in cancer services in Portlaoise, Minister for Social Affairs Martin Cullen said today. Mr Cullen was defending the handling of the crisis by his colleague, Minister for Health Mary Harney, and said she could not be expected to take personal responsibility for every clinical decision.
Minister for Health Mary Harney answers questions earlier this month on the Portlaoise hospital crisis Up to 70 women are due to attend a special breast clinic in Portlaoise today as part of a clinical review of cases handled by the Midland General Hospital. It is understood about 30 women had attended by this evening. Speaking on RTÉ radio's Saturday View programme, Mr Cullen said the Minister could not be personally responsible for every clinical decision made on a daily basis in the health service.
You can’t adopt this tactic for every despot you meet, Miliband
There are many ruses I might pull to avoid meeting some whiskery old Saudi Arabian politician, but I would probably draw the line at adopting an American child. It seems a little short-termist. That is what the foreign secretary, David Miliband, did last week. Due to meet his counterpart, Saud al-Faisal, he suddenly remembered that his adoptive son was about to be born and disappeared to the US to witness the event. Old Faisal reacted a bit huffily and declined to meet Miliband’s deputy, Kim Howells, which is understandable – Howells is fairly awful. But it got the Anglo-Saudi summit off to a ticklish start. Inshallah, the British government will have attempted to put matters right in the traditional manner when dealing with this repulsive medieval Arab kingdom, and bunged them an enormous crock of dosh and taken the various dignitaries to meet agreeable female company in Mayfair.
Mad Men: Doublemint Don
The rock icon reinvented herself as an artist, and she's visiting the Garden State with her latest works as part of a tour of the Wentworth Gallery chain, the company announced. Slick will appear at the Wentworth Gallery in Riverside Square Mall, Hackensack, on Oct. 19 from 6-9 p.m., and at the one in the Mall at Short Hills on Oct. 20, 4-7 p.m., and Oct. 21, 1-4 p.m. Continue reading "Some Slick artwork on view" » .
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Musharraf to amend Constitution before lifting emergency
ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf will issue three orders on Saturday or Sunday to lift the state of emergency and revive the Constitution, but after making several amendments to the basic document under his special PCO powers. Highly-placed sources told media here that the relevant orders had been drafted by legal experts of the law ministry and cleared by the authorities concerned. After further vetting, these would be submitted to the president for his approval. The first order would pertain to the constitutional amendments which have already been discussed at the highest level and approved by the government's constitutional experts. The amendments would incorporate the establishment of a federal court in Islamabad to streamline the system pertaining to the superior judiciary. The president, who has been vested with the authority to amend the Constitution through the proclamation orders issued by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on Nov 3 and subsequently the authority was transferred to the president, would be issuing such an order for the last time.
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