Each week is busy in the world of high-cost pharmaceutical drugs and corporate shenanigans. First up, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a nasal spray called Narcan. The drug is designed to stop or reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The product contains naloxone hydrochloride and is intended to be used where there is concern that the person who has taken the overdose will die. The product is suitable for both overdoses using prescription drugs and illegal ones, like heroin.
Trials have shown naloxone to be effective within two minutes. People with opioid overdoses display symptoms of body aches, diarrhea, tachycardia, fever, sweating, restlessness and increased blood pressure.
With pharmaceutical sector developments, Danish company Leo Pharma, who specializes in skin products, is to acquire Astellas Pharma’s dermatology business for a reported $727 million. The key product is Astellas’ Protopic drug, which is used for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. There are also other medications for treating acne and skin infection, including Zineryt, Locoid and Locobase.
China represents a major growth area for the pharmaceutical business as millions of people who did not have a steady access to everyday medications are increasingly being offered products due to state liberalisation. Targeting this, Chinese company WuXi PharmaTech and U.S. based Eli Lilly are partnering to develop and commercialize a once-daily oral medication to help lower cardiovascular risk in patients with dyslipidemia. The product will be orientated for the Chinese market and it is intended for people with elevated cholesterol and triglycerides.
Away from mergers, the campaign group Doctors Without Borders deposited $17 million in fake currency outside Pfizer’s headquarters in the U.S. This was to highlight the company’s price of its pneumonia vaccine called Prevnar. Pfizer charges $16.50 per vaccine dose and this comes to $50 per patient.
Doctors Without Borders argues $5 per child in the developing world in a fair price and points to GlaxoSmithKline charging only $7 per dose for an equivalent product. The charity accuses Pfizer of unnecessary profiteering. According to Pharmaceutical Processing, Pfizer has declined to comment on the specific protest.
