> It may not rival the big bucks earned by Big Pharma CEOs, but Millipore chief exec Martin Madaus took home a hefty pay package last year. He earned $3.9 million in compensation in 2007. That includes $742,307 in base pay, a bonus of $488,000 and options worth $2.6 million on the day they were granted. Report [1]
> Which drug exec gets paid 140 percent more than the median among his peers? Cephalon CEO Frank Baldino (photo [2]). He made a cool $13.5 million last year. That paycheck included a $1.2 million salary, $2.2 million in bonus, and $10.1 million in stock and options. Report [3]
> Mortality rates at 494 hospitals around the country that participated in clinical trials for acute coronary syndrome declined. Report [4]
> Frustrated by the long years of research needed to prove the effectiveness of a new cancer therapy, British officials have designated a network of 19 hospital units that will be allowed to administer early-stage experimental cancer drugs to terminal patients. Report [5]
> Big Pharma companies are often quick to turn their backs on a drug that doesn't deliver strong data. But a series of these failed development programs have been resurrected by scientists who decided to search for the kind of genetic biomarkers that would define a group of patients who would respond positively. Report [6]
> Manipulating insulin levels raises the level of the master gene-regulating protein SKN-1, significantly prolonging the lives of microscopic worms in one study. Report [7]
> HistoRx and Eli Lilly have extended their technology agreement. Story [8]
> Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline have been marking up meds to increase their revenues, according to Thomson data. The two companies boosted wholesale prices by about 9 percent on their 10 best-sellers last year. Without those increases, Pfizer and GSK would have seen their sales drop by more than 10 percent. Report [9]
> Pfizer is suing for Lipitor protection until 2016. Report [10]
And Finally... Many in the medical community are at odds over the ethics of at-home bipolar gene tests currently on the market. Report [11]
Links:
[1] http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/cfc0e143053441f60faf7e0be30eda0c.htm
[2] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/pages/cephalon-ceo-frank-baldino
[3] http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/cephalon-pays-ceo-more-than-hefty-rivals/2008-03-26
[4] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/study-clinical-trials-cut-mortality-rates-at-hospitals/2008-03-25
[5] http://www.fiercebioresearcher.com/story/cancer-patients-take-front-line-in-early-stage-trials/2008-03-25
[6] http://www.fiercebioresearcher.com/story/genetics-research-offers-new-life-to-failed-drugs/2008-03-25
[7] http://www.fiercebioresearcher.com/story/scientists-discover-a-new-aging-lifespan-mechanism/2008-03-25
[8] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/press-releases/historx-inc-and-eli-lilly-and-company-extend-expand-aqua-analysis-partnership
[9] http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/pfizer-gsk-hike-prices-to-boost-sales/2008-03-26
[10] http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/pfizer-sues-for-lipitor-protection-till-2016/2008-03-26
[11] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/for-many-home-bipolar-tests-are-troublesome/2008-03-25