Ascendis Health has acquired six leading products from Arctic Healthcare, in a deal valued at R151 million. These are Chela-Fer, Menacal7, Chela-Preg, Chela-Mag, Osteoflex and Supa Chewz. 12 Aug 2014
What is PIC/S, and why is it important for the quality of medicine production? 16 Jul 2014
The National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers has announced its new exco. Taking over the reigns as the association's chairperson is Desmond Brothers, CEO of Ranbaxy, who will be assisted by the new vice-chairperson, Herman Grobler, COO of Cipla. 1 Jul 2014
L-R: Nchaupe Khaole (MIC), Mahlatse Kabi (MIC), Greg von Holdt (Director C2C), Mary Bomela (CEO MIC), Zaheer Abdulla (MIC), Sandile Lukhele (Director RHP), and Dimitri Clayton (RHP)
Ascendis Health announced last week that it has concluded an agreement with the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), which will see the BEE ownership in Ascendis increase over a three-year period. 1 Jul 2014
Aspen's Port Elizabeth manufacturing plant. The company says that earnings might be lower than expected in the second half after few government tenders were won. Image: Thembela Architects
Aspen Pharmacare is attempting to eliminate uncertainty regarding its second-half earnings by saying certain comments made by its management team at a conference call last week were misconstrued and taken out of context. 1 Jul 2014
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 10-15% of the global drug supply is fake, in Africa, this may account for up to 30% of medicines in circulation - with these figures ever growing. 20 Jun 2014
Subject to the regulatory consent of the South African Competition Authorities, Ascendis Health has acquired Respiratory Care Africa, a specialist medical devices company, for R 145 million in a cash and shares deal. 17 Jun 2014
LONDON, UK: British pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to a US$350-million deal with Adaptimmune to help develop and sell the biotechnology firm's cancer drugs, the companies said on Monday, 2 June 2014. 3 Jun 2014
Had the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) not blown the Chilean pharmaceutical company CFR's bid for Adcock Ingram out of the water late last year, Adcock's shareholders would now have a huge return. 3 Jun 2014
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, operational in 11 sub-Saharan African countries, has announced that it is launching into Zambia, initially focusing on providing cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal drugs and expanding its product portfolio to cover diseases like oncology and diabetes. 28 May 2014
Yale's Michael Kinch spent his spare time in the last year creating a massive database that encompasses the entire history of drug development in the United States. In a series of 20 articles scheduled to be published over the next year in the journal Drug Discovery Today, Kinch mines the data and provides historical tidbits about the history of drug development and reveals trends on how - or whether - we will get new medicines in the future. 29 Apr 2014
The Board of Adcock Ingram today, 3 April 2014, announced the appointment of Kevin Wakeford as chief executive officer, with immediate effect. Wakeford joins Adcock Ingram following more than 10 years' experience with the Bidvest Group Limited, where he led various companies within the group. 3 Apr 2014
Adcock's Jonathan Louw has quit the company with immediate effect. Image: Adcock
Jonathan Louw became the most high-profile casualty of the year-long battle that resulted in the Bidvest Group holding the single largest shareholding in drug maker Adcock Ingram. Louw quit as chief executive on Tuesday, 2 April 2014. 3 Apr 2014
Research from Frost & Sullivan indicates that breakthrough therapies for rare (also called 'orphan') diseases command premium pricing, particularly if no alternatives exist. 2 Apr 2014
The Department of Health's recent consideration to review the formula used to determine medicine price increases and involving pharmaceutical companies in the review process is welcomed, as it will assist the industry in weathering the storm of the weakening rand. 1 Apr 2014
The Innovative Pharmaceutical Association South Africa (IPASA) has appointed its 2014 committee, led by Dr Timothy Kedijang, CEO of Novo Nordisk, as president and Kobus Venter, CEO of Janssen Pharmaceuticals as VP. 28 Mar 2014
New research from Frost & Sullivan's 'Analysis of the Global Biosimilars Market' finds the market earned revenue of about $1.2 billion in 2013 and estimates this will reach approximately $24 billion in 2019. Untapped US markets, with a strong biosimilars* pipeline, as well as markets in Asia-Pacific and Latin America with a low cost of manufacturing will afford key growth opportunities. 3 Feb 2014
After receiving Competition Commission approval, Ascendis Health has acquired 100% of specialist medical company Surgical Innovations and Atka Pharma, an investment of close to R400 million. 28 Jan 2014
The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) has come out in support of Minister Motsoaledi and the DTI's call for reform on South African medicine patent laws, which are restricting access to affordable healthcare. 24 Jan 2014
This week it was confirmed that Kaizer Chiefs player, Josta Dladla, tested positive for the banned stimulant, methylhexanamine, commonly known as 1.3-dimethyl or DMAA, the use of which is banned in professional sport. 17 Jan 2014
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