Warri South-West LG Election: Keyamo Writes Gov Uduaghan, Says You’re a Disgrace to Governance

October 28, 2014

Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan,
(Executive Governor of Delta State),
Government House,
Asaba,
Delta State.
Your Excellency,
OPEN LETTER:
ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION OF CANDIDATE IN WARRI SOUTH-WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION: YOU GOT THIS ONE VERY WRONG
Sir, you know that I have tremendous respect for you and many people also do. And this is principally because you have managed to meander your way through the thorny paths of heavy ethnic sentiments in the politics of Delta State with grace, calmness and uncommon dignity. But like all humans, you have just shown that you, too, have your own shortcomings.

Gerhard Domagk – a Pioneer in the History of Medicine

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

75 Years after Receiving the Nobel Prize

Ceremony for Gerhard Domagk – a Pioneer in the History of Medicine

75 years ago, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for discovering sulfonamides: Bayer researcher Gerhard Domagk. With this medication, he significantly contributed to fighting tuberculosis. To recognize his achievements, the University of Greifswald, Germany, held a Gerhard Domagk celebration on the day of the 75th anniversary of the Nobel Prize – with support from the Bayer Foundation.

Ex-militant leader, Tompolo, wants to kill me, Keyamo cries out

October 29, 2014Ben Ezeamalu

Festus Keyamo

A Lagos-based lawyer, Festus Keyamo, has petitioned the State Security Services, SSS, and the Nigerian Police over an alleged threat to his life by Government Ekpemuopolo, an ex-militant leader, popularly known as Tompolo.

Business of Medicine: German Pharmaceutical Firms Vie For Lucrative China Market.

German Pharmaceutical Firms Vie For Lucrative China Market.

The Wall Street Journal (10/29, Alessi, Subscription Publication) reports on the competition between German companies Bayer AG and Merck KGaA to grab a slice of the lucrative, $102 billion Chinese pharmaceutical market through investments and acquisitions. The paper notes that the two companies’ expansion plans come as China’s seeks to bring healthcare to a wider, aging population. Still, the Journal points out, the companies faced increasing challenges of doing business in China such as regulatory hurdles.

Indian Firm Claims It Still Holds Rights For Generic Heartburn Medicine In US.

Reuters (10/28) reports India-based Ranbaxy Laboratories disclosed it still holds exclusive rights to market AstraZeneca’s heartburn medicine Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) in the US. The company’s reiteration comes amid doubts about its ability to launch the medicine, as the FDA banned import of any pharmaceutical product from the company’s Toansa plant in India over quality concerns.

Market Outlook For Diabetes Medicines Examined.

The Wall Street Journal (10/29) reports in its “Pharmalot” blog that the news that Sanofi expects its global diabetes sales to remain flat in 2015 may ignite a price war, citing Leerink analyst Seamus Fernandez. The blog posting notes that’s because companies have to resort to aggressive discounting to retain their insulin market share. Sanofi is expected to lose the most as it dominates the US basal insulin market with its Lantus (insulin glargine) treatment. Analysts expect Eli Lilly to boost its market share due to its portfolio of injectable diabetes products, the piece adds.

Swiss Firm Expects Sales Of $2 Billion To $5 Billion From Heart Failure Medicine.

Reuters (10/29) reports Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis disclosed its new heart failure medicine, LCZ696, could generate sales of $2 billion to $5 billion, citing Chief Executive Joe Jimenez.

FDA Approves Ebola Detection Device.

The Washington Times (10/29, Ernst) reports, “The Food and Drug Administration has approved a device for US hospitals that can quickly and accurately detect Ebola.” The machine was developed by Salt Lake City-based company BioFire, which “announced over the weekend that the FDA approved the FilmArray for emergency use authorization in hospitals across the US.” The machine has previously been used for by military personnel in Africa.

Some Hepatitis C Patients Not Sick Enough To Qualify For Specialty Drugs.

      Kaiser Health News (10/29) reports that many patients with hepatitis C “whose livers aren’t yet significantly damaged by the viral infection” are not sick enough to qualify for expensive new drugs. With a cost per patient of about $95,000 for a 12-week course of treatment, “many public and private insurers are restricting access to those who already have serious liver damage.” Additionally, many state Medicaid programs require that patients be drug and alcohol free for a certain time period before they can get the hepatitis C treatments. The article notes two hepatitis C drugs, Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) and Harvoni (ledipasvir-sofosbuvir), were recently approved by the FDA.

Swiss Vaccine To Treat Ebola Approved For Human Trials.

The Wall Street Journal (10/28, MacLucas, Subscription Publication) reported that on Tuesday, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products approved an Ebola vaccine trial that will take place at Lausanne University Hospital. The volunteers for the trial, 120 in total, are healthcare workers who will work in West Africa.

        Bloomberg News (10/29, Gale, Fourcade) reports that Blaise Genton, the study’s leader, is “quite optimistic,” saying in an interview, “We need to go very fast so that we may have something more than what we have now in terms of preventive measures.” The vaccine is being developed by GlaxoSmithKline. The AP (10/28) and Reuters (10/28, Nebehay, Hirschler) also covered the story.

        Ebola Treatment Review Bill To Be Introduced. The Hill (10/29, Ferris) reports that “leaders of the Senate Health Committee are planning to introduce a bill that would fast-track the creation of Ebola treatments by offering incentives to drug companies.” The bill, which is co-authored by Sens. Tom Harkin and Lamar Alexander, would permit the Federal government to use a program called “priority review” to “speed through a company’s drug application for Ebola within about six months.” Additionally, “the companies would also earn a bonus voucher for another drug of their choice to receive priority review, even if it’s not meant to treat a neglected disease like Ebola.” In a statement, Sen. Alexander said, “This bill will help fight Ebola with a tool that encourages the development of necessary but unprofitable drugs — offering a reward for drug makers who invest the time and resources to develop drugs to treat, and hopefully cure, Ebola.”

        Cornyn Requests Status Update On Ebola Treatment Plan. The Hill (10/29, Marcos) reports in its “Floor Action” blog that “Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Tuesday requested information from the Obama administration on the progress of treatments for Ebola.” Cornyn wrote a letter to National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg urging “the agencies to prioritize research for an Ebola vaccine.”

        US Ebola Vaccine Contracts Could Be Worth At Least $1 Billion. CNN’s Money (10/28, Rooney), citing a report from Credit Suisse, reported that “the US government alone can be expected to award contracts worth more than $1 billion to companies to fund large quantities of Ebola medicine.” Meanwhile, the article reported that “the deadly virus has struck such fear globally that people are betting many governments will start stockpiling Ebola drugs to combat any future outbreaks.”

        Maryland Company Developing Ebola Vaccine. The Washington Post (10/29, Overly) “Capital Business” blog reports that Gaithersburg, MD-based “Novavax, a life sciences company that develops vaccines for infectious diseases, could begin testing a vaccine to stem the spread of Ebola in humans as soon as December, the company’s chief executive said.” Company CEO Stanley C. Erck “said the company would expect to have results from its initial trial in humans during the first three months of 2015 and, based on those results, could plot a path toward selling the vaccine later that year.”

Gilead Says Third-Quarter Sales Of Hepatitis C Medicine Fell 20 Percent.

The Wall Street Journal (10/28, Stynes, Rockoff, Subscription Publication) reports Gilead Sciences Inc. disclosed its third-quarter revenue from its costly hepatitis C treatment Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) dipped 20 percent from the second-quarter period, as physicians awaited the entry of another hepatitis C medicine Harvoni (ledipasvir and sofosbuvir).

        Providing additional details of the company’s third-quarter earnings, Bloomberg News (10/28, Chen) reports that although Gilead’s third-quarter earnings missed analysts’ estimates, “after paying a fee to U.S. from Obamacare and reporting lower-than-projected revenue” for Sovaldi, its profit more than tripled to $2.73 billion. Revenue from Sovaldi totaled $2.8 billion in the third quarter,” less than the $2.96 billion average of 14 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg.” Overall, its revenue for the quarter “more than doubled to $6.04 billion from a year earlier, making it the world’s biggest biotechnology company,” the piece adds.

        Modern Healthcare (10/28, Subscription Publication) also covers the news.