Affymetrix and Iconix will combine their efforts to provide tools to assess drug toxicity. The collaboration will combine Affymetrix’ GeneChip microarray technology with Iconix’ DrugMatrix 640 compound reference database and analysis software. Affymetrix’ arrays and Iconix’ analysis tools could provide detailed information on a drug candidate’s toxicological liabilities and pharmacological… more...

Software from TheraDoc (of Utah) and BioMetrieux (of France) is having an impressive effect on patient health. The two companies say their Stellara package, used for clinical intervention and patient monitoring, was used at Franciscan Health Systems in Tacoma, Washington. “We have experienced tremendous success with Stellara as our intelligent… more...

Does the world need more than one RFID (radio frequency identification) standard? Some in the industry think that separate schemes for every industry will lead to chaos. Some packages already have multiple bar codes. In the United States, pharmaceutical drugs have a National Drug Code. Tires have their own number.… more...

IMS, a leading market research firm, says U.S. prescription drug sales grew 5.4 percent to $251.8 billion in 2005. That compares to $238.9 billion in sales in 2004. The volume of total U.S. dispensed prescriptions was up significantly over 2004, growing 4.7 percent. “The pharmaceutical market continues to experience solid… more...

PhRMA released undated figures showing $39 billion in research and development spending in 2005. That’s a 5.4 percent increase from $37 billion in 2004. “America’s research-based biopharmaceutical companies once again lead the world in investing in the hunt for new cures and treatments. It is the most research-intensive industry in… more...

Standard & Poors says that the drug industry will have a good year despite public scrutiny of drug prices and generic competition. “Despite near-term uncertainties over pricing and patent expirations, we think pharmaceuticals remains one of the healthiest and widest-margin U.S. industries,” says Herman Saftlas, an S&P analyst. “We see… more...

The Congressional Budget Office estimates a severe flu pandemic could sicken 90 million people and kill 2 million Americans, or approximately two-thirds of one percent of the U.S. population. A pandemic could also push the economy into a recession, the CBO predicted. The likelihood of an influenza pandemic in any… more...

Institutional Investor, in a new survey of corporate social responsibility, takes the pharmaceutical industry to task. Pfizer, in particular, was singled out for shutting down public outreach efforts when company news turned sour last year. “The company has stopped communicating effectively,” Institutional Investor reports. more...

The U.S. government will fund the collection of patient genetic data in Framingham, Mass. To find the genetic markers for common diseases, including heart disease and stroke, the Framingham Heart Study will spend $13 million to collect detailed genetic information on 9,000 study participants. “We have for a long time… more...

The North Carolina company etrials has begun its life as a public company. It will trade on the over-the-counter exchange under the ticker ETWC. In addition to raising money for the founders, the transaction with CEAC Acquisition Company, a Florida investment company, the deal will give the company a $20… more...