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Globalisation of advanced R&D services 'on the rise'

17-Jul-2008 - Pharmaceutical companies in the developed world have already shifted substantial manufacturing and clinical trial work to emerging economies such as China and India, but a new study suggest they are increasingly counting on these countries for advanced research and development services as well.

Big pharma to persist with external reliance

03-Mar-2008 - Big pharma's thirst for external innovation is set to persist amidst the blockbuster drought.

EC 'unlikely to support ban on primate testing'

13-Feb-2008 - The European Commission is unlikely to support an outright ban on the use of non-human primates in research, but has just published a new document which indicates that significant changes to current legislation are envisioned.

UK Government plans will stifle innovation, say biotechs

16-Jan-2008 - New UK Government proposals to scrap Capital Gains Tax (CGT) relief will stifle life science innovation, according to a group of biotech small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Paediatric drugs and testing highlighted

26-Nov-2007 - The importance of paediatric drug formulations and clinical trials in children was highlighted at this month's American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) conference in San Diego.

No embryo required: human stem cells from the skin

21-Nov-2007 - A startling breakthrough has allowed scientists to create human stem cells from just reprogrammed skin cells, with no embryo and thus, perhaps no ethical dilemma.

Pharma must 'reinvent' itself to survive

02-Nov-2007 - With IMS Health's annual forecast for the pharma industry predicting slower approvals, more black box warnings and the continuation of the 'wave of genericization,' the shift by pharma firms to refocus and reinvent themselves will need to move on apace in order to secure their position in a changing market.

Big pharma lends a helping hand

29-Oct-2007 - Despite often attracting a barrage of negative publicity, particularly in regard to a perception of putting profits before people, big pharma firms are still capable of showing their human side in times of crisis.

Pfizer partners in shock after surprise Exubera exit

22-Oct-2007 - We've all cringed at stories of people dumping their partners via text message but in the world of business, Pfizer seems to have taken things to a new level when its Exubera partners were allegedly left to find out the product was being scrapped through a press release.

UK gets go-ahead for hybrid embryo research

06-Sep-2007 - Eight months after the debate started over whether hybrid embryo research should be allowed in the UK, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has given researchers the thumbs up - but only on a case-by-case basis.

Speculation on gene therapy trial death 'premature'

08-Aug-2007 - Targeted Genetics said it was 'premature as well as irresponsible' to draw any conclusions on what caused the death of a patient who participated in a clinical trial testing the safety of the firm's new gene therapy.

UK ordered to review animal testing approval system

30-Jul-2007 - The UK government has been ordered to review the assessment system it uses to classify and grant permission for animal experiments following a court ruling handed down last week.

Informed consent 'not up to scratch'

18-Jul-2007 - A recent survey of clinical trial participants in the US has revealed worrying signs that the informed consent process is 'not up to scratch'.

China carries out execution on corrupt drug official

10-Jul-2007 - China has wasted no time in executing the first of its convicted corrupt former drug officials after his desperate appeal for life failed.

Corrupt Chinese drug official appeals death penalty

13-Jun-2007 - The former director of the country's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) has lodged an appeal against the death penalty slapped on him after a corruption conviction.