As the pharmaceutical industry moves away from an era defined by blockbusters, its products are becoming more diverse and the markets it serves global. While companies have put great investment into rebuilding their pipelines and expanding into emerging markets, a new report from PwC says they have neglected the implications these changes will have on manufacturing, distribution, and other links in the supply chain. We spoke to Wynn Bailey, partner in the pharmaceuticals and life sciences advisory practice of PwC, about the changes taking place in the industry, how prepared companies are for the downstream consequences of them, and the choices they will face in the years ahead. Read More Here

Gilead makes $600 million play for Calistoga
Promising mid-stage cancer drug draws interest.
Gilead Sciences will pay up to $600 million for Calistoga Pharmaceuticals and its mid-stage cancer drug, giving a boost to its oncology pipeline and possibly helping it move past a lackluster foray into cardiovascular therapies. Read More Here

Comparison Shopping
Bipartisan group of senators pushes to allow drug reimportation.
A bipartisan group of 19 senators is pushing legislation that would allow consumers to buy prescription drugs from markets outside the United States where the same drugs can sell for 35 to 55 percent less. The legislation, introduced by Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow and Maine Republican Olympia Snowe, reignites a long-fought battle over drug reimportation. Read More Here

Forest Nabs Clinical Data for $1.2 Billion
Appetite for new acquisitions still strong, Forest says.
Forest Laboratories will pay $1.2 billion to acquire Clinical Data and its newly approved antidepressant, Viibryd, a year ahead of looming generic competition for Lexapro, its blockbuster depression drug that loses patent protection in 2012. Read More Here

FDA Not Ready to Approve Protalix's Gaucher Disease Drug
The weekly round-up of failed trials, missed targets, and other business mishaps.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified Protalix BioTherapeutics that it would not approved taliglucerase alfa, its experimental treatment for Gaucher disease, without additional information. Taliglucerase alfa is a form of glucocerebrosidase expressed by plant cells. The company said the main questions raised by the FDA relate to clinical and chemistry issues, manufacturing, and controls. The agency did not request additional clinical studies. In November 2009, Pfizer and Protalix entered into an agreement to develop and commercialize taliglucerase alfa. Read More Here

Out of School
Firm closes $100 million venture fund focused on startups based on university technology.
A venture fund focused on making direct investments in startups out of leading universities has just closed on a $100 million fund. Osage University Partners, which manages coinvestment rights held by affiliate universities, is making direct investments in their most promising startup companies. Read More Here

Cell Phone Use Affects Brain Metabolism
Health consequences are unknown though.
My best friend can't go anywhere without her cell phone. She loves to walk and bike, but if she's doing it by herself, the phone is glued to her ear. I'm wondering if I should tell her that it may be affecting her brain. Read More Here

The Life Sciences Delivered to Your Desktop Every Monday Morning

Click Here for a FREE subscription to The Burrill Weekly Brief