NOTICIAS DE LA INDUSTRIA FARMACEUTICA

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Schering Pharma have sued Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Barr Pharmaceuticals and Barr Laboratories, for false advertising and patent infringement in connection with Teva's generic oral contraceptive, Gianvi.

Teva's product is sold as a generic version of Bayer HealthCare's oral contraceptive YAZ, a progesterone and estrogen combination birth control pill. It works by preventing ovulation, thickening the mucus in the cervix, and changing the lining of the uterus.
Bayer believes Teva is offering for sale its Gianvi product with Physician Prescribing Information that falsely claims that Gianvi's ethinyl estradiol is 'stabilised by betadex as a clathrate.'

Bayer said that based on testing of tablets now in the US market, it believes that Teva's Gianvi product does not in fact contain ethinyl estradiol stabilised by betadex as a clathrate.

Further, Bayer plans to seek a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to stop Teva from making false claims about its Gianvi product and from infringing Bayer Schering's US Patent No 5,798,338, which covers offers to sell a drug with an ethinyl estradiol that is stabilised by betadex as a clathrate.

Abbott and Neurocrine Announce Global Agreement to Develop and Commercialize Elagolix for the Treatment of Endometriosis

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. and SAN DIEGO, June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBIX) today announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize elagolix for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain. Elagolix is a novel, first-in-class oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, which has recently completed a phase IIb study in endometriosis. In addition to endometriosis, elagolix will be evaluated for the treatment of uterine fibroids.

"Extensive preclinical and clinical experience with elagolix suggests this drug could be an important advance for women with endometriosis and uterine fibroids, highly prevalent conditions where there is a need for new treatments," said John Leonard, M.D., senior vice president, pharmaceuticals, research and development, Abbott. "This agreement enhances Abbott's late stage pipeline, with the potential for additional compounds in earlier stage development."

Scientific American Article Says DNA Vaccines Are Reaching Their Potential

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Scientific Advisor and DNA Vaccines Pioneer Co-Authors Article Highlighting That DNA-Based Vaccines and Treatments Are Poised to Become a Success Story BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 16, 2010 - Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: INO), a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that Scientific American magazine has published in its July issue an article entitled “DNA Drugs Come of Age.” The article details the “rebirth” of DNA vaccines, which are recognized as safer; easier and faster to develop and manufacture; and not requiring refrigeration - in contrast to traditional vaccines. The article states: “A new generation of plasmid-based vaccines is proving in human and animal trials that it can produce the desired responses while retaining the safety and other benefits that make DNA so appealing. The same DNA-based technology is also now expanding to other forms of immune therapy and the direct delivery of medicines. In their mature form, such DNA-based vaccines and treatments are poised to become a success story by addressing several conditions that now lack effective treatments.”

NOTICIAS DE LA INDUSTRIA DE ALIMENTOS

Health News

Sugar-free confections have been linked to increased levels of LDL cholesterol and a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease, according to Dr. Mark Urman, medical director of the Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. While the products are important for diabetics, they comprise just under 8% of the U.S. population, and close to 30% of Americans regularly consume foods that are either sugar-free, reduced-sugar or sweetened with sugar substitutes, stated NPD analyst Harry Balzer, reported The Los Angeles Times.

Kellogg’s Next Acquisition More Likely a Snack Business “Modest in Size”

16 June 2010 - Commenting on Kellogg's acquisition strategy at an investor conference in Paris yesterday, Chief Operating Officer John Bryant said that his company is satisfied with its current portfolio and is not looking to buy big companies.

Nestle to Build New Plant in Russia

15 June 2010 - An investment of CHF 60 million (1.6 billion roubles) for the construction of a new state-of-the-art factory in Russia has been announced today by Nestlé.Earmarked for a greenfield site in the Vyazniki district of the Vladimir region – around 300 km east of Moscow – the new factory will produce a wide range of culinary products under the Maggi brand.

The new plant, which will be the 14th production site under Nestlé Russia, will create 500 new jobs in the district.  

US: BASF Expands With opening of New Nutrition Ingredients Innovation Laboratory

June 14 – BASF plans to strengthen its support services for the food and beverage industry and has established a new Nutrition Ingredients Innovation Laboratory at its technical center in Tarrytown, New York. BASF closed its existing laboratory in Ledgewood, New Jersey, on March 31, 2010.