Pfizer announced this week that following a successful completion of its $68-billion acquisition of Wyeth, it will divide its research activities into two separate organizations, one for small molecules and one for biologics and vaccines. The reorganization is but a microcosm of Big Pharma’s larger strategic interest to strengthen its position in biologics with the hopes of improving its return on research and development (R&D). But is the calculus of intensifying R&D into biologics correct? Read more »

Eli Lilly & Co. (Indianapolis) CEO John Lechleiter earlier this week told the Financial Times that he is not interested in becoming part of the recent mega-merger trend (see Pfizer+Wyeth, Merck+Schering-Plough and Roche+Genentech). Rumors and speculation have had some thinking Lilly+Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) would be the next big thing, but Lechleiter specifically ended rumors of that combination and remained critical of Big Pharma’s recent big deals. Read more »

When faced with determined opponents, sports teams sometimes work the referees to win the game. A victory based on an interpretation of the rules is a victory nonetheless. The team of Warner Chilcott (Rockaway, NJ), Medicis Pharmaceutical (Scottsdale, AZ), Roche (Basel), and Stiefel Laboratories (Coral Gables, FL) recently used this tactic in their competition with generic drugmakers. The companies filed citizen petitions with the US Food and Drug Administration in an attempt to delay the approval of generic versions of their antibiotics. Read more »

Yesterday at INTERPHEX, attendees had the opportunity to meet representatives from the category winners of the Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) at a reception. The awards program, now in its fifth year, recognizes companies that advance pharmaceutical manufacturing technology. Read more »

Ending nearly eight months of negotiations, Roche and Genentech agreed yesterday on a price of $95 per share in cash (approximately $46.8 billion) for Roche to acquire the 44% of Genentech it doesn’t already own. Read more »

As Roche promised earlier this month, it commenced a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Genentech it doesn’t own for $86.50 cash per share. And as Genentech promised, it evaluated the offer and issued a statement to stockholders on Monday. As expected, Genentech rejected the offer. Read more »

As my colleague recently mentioned, new doesn’t always mean better. That became true last week for anyone waiting for a new offer from Roche to acquire Genentech. Roche announced its new plan to buy the company last Friday: Roche will approach Genentech’s shareholders directly with an offer of $86.50 per share or $42 billion. Read more »

Key results from a colon cancer study of Genentech’s Avastin (bevacizumab) could be available in April, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Genentech previously said results would be available mid-year. The drug is currently approved to treat breast and lung cancer, and it’s a first- and second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. Read more »

Last month, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the Rockefeller Foundation announced a challenge to HIV/AIDS scientists: design an AIDS-fighting protein to win $150,000. The winning protein design and sample will advance HIV vaccine development, and the winning researchers could receive a bonus of up to $1 million and/or the chance to pursue their research further with help from IAVI. Read more »

Innovation used to be a term dedicated to a company’s visions for growth. Keeping one eye on the roots of your business and the other on long-term prospects was a smart strategy. Against a backdrop of a nose-diving economy, however, it seems as if “innovation” now has less to do with growth and more to do with survival. Read more »