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Friday, 29 January 2010 12:19 GMT
French weekly press review
PARIS, Jan 29 (APM) - The departure of Novartis' CEO Daniel Vasella, who will remain chairman of the board, and the arrival of Joe Jimenez, following a record year for profits were reported in Wednesday's Les Echos (p19), La Tribune (p18) and Le Figaro (p23).
Les Echos said that Vasella's decision has surprised all at the company.
La Tribune reports that Joe Jimenez has beaten Jörg Reinhardt to it - Reinhardt is operational director and is leaving the group. The daily says Jimenez has worked in the world of consumer products, and that he started out at Novartis as head of the OTC division.
La Tribune questions what changes Jimenez might impose once he is installed, now that Novartis has just acquired 77% of Alcon. Jimenez will have to prepare the group for the patent expiry of its anti-hypertensive Diovan (valsartan) and win the biosimilar battle.
All three papers review Vasella's career, he is leaving on a high note: in 2009, Novartis net profits came to $8.4 billion (up by 4% compared with the previous year) - H1N1 vaccine sales boosted Novartis results: vaccine turnover in Q4 came to $1 billion.
However La Tribune says results have not been so outstanding for Sandoz, the generic branch. The daily mentions Sandoz CEO Jeff George who says Sandoz is investing in biosimilars and aims to have grown by 8-9% in 2014.
Le Figaro sums up the discussions between France and Novartis, over France's cancellation of part of its H1N1 vaccine order. Novartis holds that vaccines already produced should be delivered and two-thirds of the orders that France wants to cancel have already been produced. Novartis would also like another order (for instance of vaccines for the next influenza vaccination campaign) to make up for the cancellation.
H1N1
Tuesday's Le Parisien (p2, 3) reported on the public hearing organised at the Council of Europe on the handling of the H1N1 epidemic.
The daily carried an interview with Dr Keiji Fukuda, advisor to the head of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, in which he defended WHO's actions.
Fukuda denied that the WHO had been influenced by pharma companies in its H1N1-related decisions. He has no objection to the fact that researchers and practitioners who advise WHO often also work for pharma companies. They are "competent" he said, and WHO needs their services.
Fukuda also said: "If an expert has deliberately concealed instances where he has worked with outside organisations, if he has lied to us, he will be sanctioned."
Tuesday's Le Figaro (p11) reported that the hearing had been called by German epidemiologist and politician, Wolfgang Wodarg, who had asked for the set up of a European inquiry to assess the "threat of false pandemics." Wodarg accuses pharma companies of having induced the wasting of care resources on ineffective vaccination strategies.
Wednesday's La Tribune (p10) said other MEPs have called for an inquiry into H1N1 management, such as Europe Ecologie's Michèle Rivasi who wants a hearing of the European agencies in charge of the H1N1 file, various member state officials, and of French health minister Roselyne Bachelot in particular.
Thursday's Le Monde (p4) quoted Rivasi who says the principle of "immoderation" has led to relentless vaccination. She emphasises the fact that Poland purchased no H1N1 vaccine and has had fewer H1N1 fatalities than France.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Tuesday's Le Figaro (p11) and Le Parisien (p10) report on the discovery of a molecule that can repair Tau protein and could considerably slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
The discovery has been made by Professor Etienne-Baulieu, who is well known for his work on the hormone DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), together with British and Australian research groups.
Baulieu emphasises that the discovery could help diagnose the disease at a very early stage, since there are biochemical anomalies in the brain from five to ten years before clinical signs appear, Le Figaro reports.
Baulieu, who is also the lead researcher for Exelgyn's Mifegyne (RU 486), is looking for financing to push forward research in Alzheimer's disease, reports Le Parisien. The French sponsor Pierre Bergé is due to make an announcement on Tuesday.
Quoting Baulieu, Le Parisien says this new discovery could open the door to new applications for existing molecules.
PAEDIATRICS
Monday's Le Figaro (p16) reported that because of unsuitable drug packaging, practitioners and hospitals frequently make dose and prescription errors with paediatric drugs.
The daily said a British study found that the conclusions are also relevant to France, despite the adoption of a European regulation on paediatric drugs at the end of 2006.
Although most of the products (80%) sold in the community have a paediatric formulation, this is less the case in hospitals. In neonatology, up to 90% of prescriptions are off label, according to Professor Gérard Pons, vice-chairman of the European Medicine Agency's (EMEA's) paediatric committee.
The daily pointed out that the European regulation imposes considerable constraints on pharma companies: to have a new drug approved they must now carry out separate adult and paediatric trials.
Paediatric trials are also required for molecules already on the market, in cases where the manufacturer wants to have a new formulation or indication approved. The daily says it is difficult to recruit children for trials, and the number of paediatric clinical trials is slow to rise.
VACCINES
Tuesday's Les Echos (p19) announced that therapeutic innovations are on the increase in France, with 42 innovations in 2009, compared with 31 in 2008.
Out of the 2009 total, 24 are new products, 13 are new indications and 2 products have had their clinical benefit rating upgraded.
The French pharmaceutical industry body (LEEM) is particularly pleased with new "therapeutic solutions" for children, the paper said.
However, only ten of the new drugs actually represent tangible progress, compared with 20 in 2006 and 24 in 2001. The daily says this is proof of the pharma industry's current struggle to launch real innovations.
Only vaccines come out favourably, and the title of the article refers to them as the "spearhead of pharmaceutical innovation". The paper highlights meningitis C vaccines: Pfizer group member Wyeth's Meningitec, Novartis' Menjugatekit, Baxter's Neisvac and GlaxoSmithKline's Mencevax.
SANOFI
The weekly Investir (p17) analysed the challenges facing Sanofi-Aventis until 2014 saying the group is lowering its risk profile.
The magazine emphasises the fact that everyone is confident the group will easily make up for patent expiries.
Between now and 2013, management aims to double sales of its diabetes drug Lantus (insulin glargine), a blockbuster protected through to 2015. It also aims to double its vaccine division turnover.
SOLVAY
Monday's Les Echos (p13) published an interview with Christian Jourquin, chairman of the Solvay executive committee.
Jourquin emphasises that it is becoming ever more difficult to have a drug approved and mentions the atypical anti-psychotic bifeprunox that failed to secure a marketing authorisation.
In 2009, Solvay sold its pharmacy division to Abbott for 5.2 billion euros.
Jourquin said that European governments are all trying to push drug prices down and encourage generics.
He said the pharmacy division had a size problem, and there are no longer companies as big as Fournier to be snapped up (Solvay purchased French company Fournier in 2005).
alc/aki/hlc
[17941] 29/01/2010 12:19 GMT - GENERAL
Les Echos said that Vasella's decision has surprised all at the company.
La Tribune reports that Joe Jimenez has beaten Jörg Reinhardt to it - Reinhardt is operational director and is leaving the group. The daily says Jimenez has worked in the world of consumer products, and that he started out at Novartis as head of the OTC division.
La Tribune questions what changes Jimenez might impose once he is installed, now that Novartis has just acquired 77% of Alcon. Jimenez will have to prepare the group for the patent expiry of its anti-hypertensive Diovan (valsartan) and win the biosimilar battle.
All three papers review Vasella's career, he is leaving on a high note: in 2009, Novartis net profits came to $8.4 billion (up by 4% compared with the previous year) - H1N1 vaccine sales boosted Novartis results: vaccine turnover in Q4 came to $1 billion.
However La Tribune says results have not been so outstanding for Sandoz, the generic branch. The daily mentions Sandoz CEO Jeff George who says Sandoz is investing in biosimilars and aims to have grown by 8-9% in 2014.
Le Figaro sums up the discussions between France and Novartis, over France's cancellation of part of its H1N1 vaccine order. Novartis holds that vaccines already produced should be delivered and two-thirds of the orders that France wants to cancel have already been produced. Novartis would also like another order (for instance of vaccines for the next influenza vaccination campaign) to make up for the cancellation.
H1N1
Tuesday's Le Parisien (p2, 3) reported on the public hearing organised at the Council of Europe on the handling of the H1N1 epidemic.
The daily carried an interview with Dr Keiji Fukuda, advisor to the head of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, in which he defended WHO's actions.
Fukuda denied that the WHO had been influenced by pharma companies in its H1N1-related decisions. He has no objection to the fact that researchers and practitioners who advise WHO often also work for pharma companies. They are "competent" he said, and WHO needs their services.
Fukuda also said: "If an expert has deliberately concealed instances where he has worked with outside organisations, if he has lied to us, he will be sanctioned."
Tuesday's Le Figaro (p11) reported that the hearing had been called by German epidemiologist and politician, Wolfgang Wodarg, who had asked for the set up of a European inquiry to assess the "threat of false pandemics." Wodarg accuses pharma companies of having induced the wasting of care resources on ineffective vaccination strategies.
Wednesday's La Tribune (p10) said other MEPs have called for an inquiry into H1N1 management, such as Europe Ecologie's Michèle Rivasi who wants a hearing of the European agencies in charge of the H1N1 file, various member state officials, and of French health minister Roselyne Bachelot in particular.
Thursday's Le Monde (p4) quoted Rivasi who says the principle of "immoderation" has led to relentless vaccination. She emphasises the fact that Poland purchased no H1N1 vaccine and has had fewer H1N1 fatalities than France.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Tuesday's Le Figaro (p11) and Le Parisien (p10) report on the discovery of a molecule that can repair Tau protein and could considerably slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
The discovery has been made by Professor Etienne-Baulieu, who is well known for his work on the hormone DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), together with British and Australian research groups.
Baulieu emphasises that the discovery could help diagnose the disease at a very early stage, since there are biochemical anomalies in the brain from five to ten years before clinical signs appear, Le Figaro reports.
Baulieu, who is also the lead researcher for Exelgyn's Mifegyne (RU 486), is looking for financing to push forward research in Alzheimer's disease, reports Le Parisien. The French sponsor Pierre Bergé is due to make an announcement on Tuesday.
Quoting Baulieu, Le Parisien says this new discovery could open the door to new applications for existing molecules.
PAEDIATRICS
Monday's Le Figaro (p16) reported that because of unsuitable drug packaging, practitioners and hospitals frequently make dose and prescription errors with paediatric drugs.
The daily said a British study found that the conclusions are also relevant to France, despite the adoption of a European regulation on paediatric drugs at the end of 2006.
Although most of the products (80%) sold in the community have a paediatric formulation, this is less the case in hospitals. In neonatology, up to 90% of prescriptions are off label, according to Professor Gérard Pons, vice-chairman of the European Medicine Agency's (EMEA's) paediatric committee.
The daily pointed out that the European regulation imposes considerable constraints on pharma companies: to have a new drug approved they must now carry out separate adult and paediatric trials.
Paediatric trials are also required for molecules already on the market, in cases where the manufacturer wants to have a new formulation or indication approved. The daily says it is difficult to recruit children for trials, and the number of paediatric clinical trials is slow to rise.
VACCINES
Tuesday's Les Echos (p19) announced that therapeutic innovations are on the increase in France, with 42 innovations in 2009, compared with 31 in 2008.
Out of the 2009 total, 24 are new products, 13 are new indications and 2 products have had their clinical benefit rating upgraded.
The French pharmaceutical industry body (LEEM) is particularly pleased with new "therapeutic solutions" for children, the paper said.
However, only ten of the new drugs actually represent tangible progress, compared with 20 in 2006 and 24 in 2001. The daily says this is proof of the pharma industry's current struggle to launch real innovations.
Only vaccines come out favourably, and the title of the article refers to them as the "spearhead of pharmaceutical innovation". The paper highlights meningitis C vaccines: Pfizer group member Wyeth's Meningitec, Novartis' Menjugatekit, Baxter's Neisvac and GlaxoSmithKline's Mencevax.
SANOFI
The weekly Investir (p17) analysed the challenges facing Sanofi-Aventis until 2014 saying the group is lowering its risk profile.
The magazine emphasises the fact that everyone is confident the group will easily make up for patent expiries.
Between now and 2013, management aims to double sales of its diabetes drug Lantus (insulin glargine), a blockbuster protected through to 2015. It also aims to double its vaccine division turnover.
SOLVAY
Monday's Les Echos (p13) published an interview with Christian Jourquin, chairman of the Solvay executive committee.
Jourquin emphasises that it is becoming ever more difficult to have a drug approved and mentions the atypical anti-psychotic bifeprunox that failed to secure a marketing authorisation.
In 2009, Solvay sold its pharmacy division to Abbott for 5.2 billion euros.
Jourquin said that European governments are all trying to push drug prices down and encourage generics.
He said the pharmacy division had a size problem, and there are no longer companies as big as Fournier to be snapped up (Solvay purchased French company Fournier in 2005).
alc/aki/hlc
[17941] 29/01/2010 12:19 GMT - GENERAL
