Welcome to the real world Matthew Gordon examines the differences between observational studies and phase III clinical trials(more)
Drug regulation: still room for improvement The Medicines Act is 40 years old this year, but regulations and regulators have to change to keep up with rapid changes in medicines and society, says Les Rose.(more)
Ageing atypical could help cut suicide levels Novartis' atypical antipsychotic Clozaril could lead to a reduction in suicide rate among patients suffering from schizophrenia, according to a new study...(more)
OTC Claritin hits Schering-Plough Schering-Plough has admitted that it underestimated the effect that Claritin switching to an over-the-counter product would have on its profits...(more)
NHS gamble could fail, Blair advisor warns The Government's political gamble on improving the NHS could fail because of shortcomings in its huge investment and reform programme, according to a Downing Street advisor...(more)
Outlook improving for GSK The prospects for the troubled Anglo-American giant GlaxoSmithKline may be changing after a storm of patent expiry threats, senior executive departures and plummeting investor confidence in 2002...(more)
Long-awaited diabetes NSF launched The long awaited diabetes national service framework has been launched with demanding new targets for the improvement of NHS services...(more)
Deadlock over access to medicines A row over patents on diabetes and asthma drugs has produced a deadlock in talks to improve access to medicines in the developing world...(more)
Pharmacia chief tipped for Schering role Current Pharmacia Chief Executive Fred Hassan has been tipped to take over the top job at Schering-Plough once the Pfizer/Pharmacia merger is completed...(more)
Industry's legal challenge to 'arbitrary' pricing European industry body EFPIA is seeking legal action against the Italian Government new reimbursement and pricing policy, which it believes unfairly targets pharmaceutical companies...(more)
Abbott surprised by early Humira approval Abbott Laboratories says US approval of its rheumatoid arthritis product Humira has come earlier than expected, and will now increase spending on its launch in 2003...(more)
Mixed Paxil patent news for GSK GlaxoSmithKline has received mixed news in the on-going patent battle with Canadian generics company Apotex over its biggest selling drug, antidepressant Paxil...(more)
Pfizer blockbuster to face competition Pfizer's blockbuster hypertension and angina treatment Norvasc could face competition from a related drug following a US court ruling...(more)
