In a very interesting BioTrends Research Group Study, that survey US rheumatologists during this past May, revealed that the majority of them will include Simponi (Golimumab) in the next 180 days, in detriment of the other available drugs.

According to the January/February edition of The Journal Health Affairs, in 2007 U.S. health care spending growth slowed to its lowest rate since 1998, increasing 6.1 percent to $2.2 trillion, or $7,421 per person.

The Food and Drug Administration approved 24 new drugs in 2008, more than in any of the prior three years, the Wall Street Journal reports. The agency approved 18 drugs in 2007, 22 in 2006 and 20 in 2005.

Deutsche Bank most respected and experienced analyst on the pharmaceutical market, Barbara Ryan, forecasted that Pfizer Inc. is interested in acquiring biotechnology firm Amgen Inc. seeking to keep market leadership and at the same time gaining a strategic position within the biotechnology segment. Similar moves are expected by Roche Holding AG, Merck & Co and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Third biggest British drug maker, Shire Plc, said that one of the main goals on the long-term it’s to double their sales on biological drugs for rare diseases. Therefore, Shire aims to strongly compete against Genzyme and BioMarin.

After the preliminary release of positive results of study data on Pfizer/Boehringer Ingelheim´s respiratory drug Spiriva, some analysts are forecasting decreasing sales for GlaxoSmithKline´s top-selling drug Advair/Seretide, the treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the world´s second-placed blockbuster drug after Lipitor.

Many large pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars on marketing and advertising, which makes the difference between a drug becoming a blockbuster or not, according to some reporters combing Advertising Age magazine, TV, radio and Internet.

A survey has shown two cases of a deadly brain infection linked to the Tysabri multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment is not affecting Elan Corp´s sales of the drug, and Elan shares rose this week.

A study by market analyst Datamonitor estimated that monoclonal antibody (mAb) sales could reach around $ 49 billion dollars by 2013. Further details of the top-selling drugs forecast.

According to a report by Companies and Markets consulting company, global sales of generic products will increase an average 14 to 15 percent in 2008, higher than the last three years´ average. Further details.

The backlog of pending generic drug applications will top 1,500 this year and is expected to balloon even further unless the FDA receives more funding, a top agency official told Reuters. FDA reviewers are taking longer to clear applications

Merck’s Isentress stands as one of the most widely prescribed HIV medications, beating Pfizer’s Selzentry, according to data from research firm MDRx Financial. Some claim Merck’s drug is easier to use and it works in more people

France´s Sanofi-Aventis Group plans to invest some 4 billion euros ($ 6.27 billion dollars) by 2016 to expand its vaccines production capacity to meet increasing global demand, stated the company´s chief executive of vaccines, Wayne Pisano. The company is building new facilities or expanding on existing ones around the world.

The U.S. prescription volume for cholesterol drugs Vytorin, jointly marketed by Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp., continued to decline in May though at a slower rate, according to industry data consultant IMS Health Inc. The drop in May was 1.1 percent, while the total percentage decline from January adds up to 23 percent.

In a study released by health market surveyor IMS Health, global sales of biotechnology drugs grew 12.5 percent in 2007, more the double the rate of overall pharmaceutical sales – but this was 18 percent lower than the 2006 growth rate.