My suggestions...and they are only suggestions:

Citigroup (c)

Wells fargo (WFC)

General Electric (GE)

Novartis

Merck

Any Water Distribution Companies

.........will post some specifically this week end.....I'm back from vacation and will start posting regularly again.

Cheers

Quisiéramos conocer de todos nuestros visitantes al blog, su impresión y/o opinión de contar con un DIRECTORIO INTERNACIONAL DE PROFESIONALES DE MARKETING FARMACEUTICO, (estarían involucrados desde Visitadores Médicos, Supervisores de Promoción, Gerentes: Generales, de Producto,  Comerciales, Ventas y Marketing, etc.) la intención inicial seria de intercambiar experiencias, así como también ser tribuna espontanea y plural para tocar diversos temas relacionados al sector.

De tener una aceptación adecuada en esta primera etapa, se podría crear la primera Red Internacional de Marketing Farmacéutico, (Pudiéndose convertir a mediano plazo en una gran asociación o gremio de corte Continental) que pueda orientar y ayudar a todos los profesionales que tengamos vínculos con la industria Farmacéutica.

Como primera iniciativa acabamos de crear un grupo de intercambio en Google de nombre “MARKETING FARMACEUTICO” donde sirva de medio de expresión, discusión y de relacionarse con otros profesionales dedicados a este tema de otros países.

FAVOR SUSCRIBIRSE EN:

http://groups.google.com.co/group/bitacorafarmaceutica?hl=es

 Los esperamos !!!!!!

.

CLICK HERE

Morgen Montag dürfte ein harter Wochenanfang für alle UBS-Manager mit Facebook-Account werden. Laut Angaben der Zeitung Sonntag sperre die Bank ihren Mitarbeitern den Zugang zur Social-Network-Plattform, denn:

«Insbesondere Social-Network-Plattformen wie Facebook bergen die Möglichkeit der Speicherung von Informationen, die auch Rückschlüsse auf den Arbeitgeber zulassen» sagt UBS-Sprecher Andreas Kern im Interview.

Nicht schlimm würde man meinen, dann wird in der grössten Schweizer Bank endlich mal wieder gearbeitet, was sich ev. für einmal positiv auf den Aktienkurs auswirken könnte.
Doch die Theorie hat Lücken. Schliesslich ist Facebook in internationalen Konzernen wie Novartis oder Roche nach wie vor erlaubt. Auch die Bundesverwaltung kennt (komischerweise) nach dem Foto-Datenskandal immer noch kein Social-Networking-Verbot. Ausgerechnet, möchte man sagen:

"Botnetz-Kriminelle sind aggressiv und machen nicht einmal vor der Bundesverwaltung halt. So wurden Ende letzten Jahres rund 500 E-Mails an die Mitarbeitenden geschickt. Diese Nachrichten waren personalisiert und betrafen einen vermeintlichen Fotowettbewerb. Der gefälschte Absender war ebenfalls eine Bundesstelle. Wer auf den Link zur Teilnahme klickte, landete auf einer täuschend echten Kopie einer Bundesseite. Doch befanden sich die  Bundesangestellten  dann tatsächlich bei einem Service Provider in einem afrikanischen Staat und luden sich eine Malware herunter.

Und Opfer einer DDos-Attacke wurde unter anderem im letzten November die Swisscom. Beinahe 3500 Kunden bekamen die Auswirkungen des Angriffs zu spüren. So war etwa während der Zeitspanne die Online-Version des «Tages-Anzeigers» nicht verfügbar. "
(Auszug: Handelszeitung 27.8.2008, S. 11)

Könnte es also doch sein, dass die UBS für einmal richtig reagiert? Vermutlich handelt es sich dabei jedoch um einen verfehlten Aktionismus, gepaart mit Hysterie. Denn: Sicherheitsrisiko Nr. 1 global operierender Firmen sind nach wie vor Laptops oder die Idioten, die sie benutzen. ]]> http://medhealthcare.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/new-phase-ii-data-show-novartis-investigational-meningitis-b-vaccine-may-also-protect-infants-six-months-and-older/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:30:15 +0000 healtherm2 http://medhealthcare.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/new-phase-ii-data-show-novartis-investigational-meningitis-b-vaccine-may-also-protect-infants-six-months-and-older/
New data show the investigational Novartis Meningitis B vaccine may be the first to also protect infants six months and older against multiple strains of potentially deadly meningococcal B bacteria. This second successful study of the vaccine in infants supports its potential to provide broad serogroup B strain coverage for both younger and older babies.

Nearly all infants (more than 95 percent) six to 12 months of age enrolled in the study generated a protective immune response as early as one month post-second dose against strains representing multiple antigens included in the vaccine[1].

"These are encouraging new findings that indicate the Novartis MenB vaccine may also offer infants six months and older robust protection against multiple strains of meningococcal B bacteria," said Matthew Snape, MD, MBBS, FRCPCH, Consultant in Vaccinology, Oxford Vaccine Group, University of Oxford; Honorary Consultant Paediatrician, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. "Providing broad protection against meningococcal B disease is a global health priority."

The meningococcal B strains are a leading cause of bacterial meningitis throughout the world, particularly among infants, accounting for 72 percent of meningococcal disease in Europe in 2006. Meningococcal B infection can be a devastating disease that strikes suddenly and can kill children quickly[2]. There is currently no broad coverage meningococcal B vaccine licensed in the European Union, United States and most other parts of the world.

The data will be shared as an oral presentation at the 16th International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference 2008 (IPNC) annual meeting in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on 12 September and build upon a recently presented successful study in infants who received the vaccine series starting at two months of age.

Novartis MenB vaccine is the first vaccine based on recombinant proteins to demonstrate a protective immune response in infants, adults, and now older infants and toddlers. It contains multiple bacterial surface proteins - or antigens - that are believed to be found in most meningococcal B strains responsible for the disease globally.

"The Novartis MenB vaccine could fill a tremendous global need for a broad coverage vaccine to protect infants and other age groups against meningococcal B strains," said Joerg Reinhardt, CEO of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics. "With the broadest development portfolio of meningococcal vaccines in the industry, Novartis is dedicated to preventing infection from the five major causes of this deadly disease in infants, children and adults around the world."

According to the new study results, 100 percent of the infants who received a series of three immunizations with Novartis MenB vaccine starting at six, seven, or eight months of age produced a protective immune response against two of the vaccine antigens, and 96 percent generated a protective immune response against a third antigen, as evaluated by a biomarker of clinical protection[1]. Similar levels of immune response were observed one month after the second dose[1]. Novartis scientists pioneered an innovative approach called "reverse vaccinology" to develop the Novartis MenB vaccine. By first decoding the entire genetic makeup of a pathogenic meningococcal serogroup B strain, Novartis discovered 580 novel proteins. Reproduced through genetic engineering for further investigation, the vaccine contains the antigens that showed the greatest ability to stimulate the immune system to kill bacteria from a panel of strains of meningococcal serogroup B representative of global and temporal diversity.

Novartis MenB vaccine is the first potentially broad coverage meningitis B vaccine to reach phase III clinical testing, which began in the first quarter of 2008.

Novartis investigational MenB vaccine study details[1]

The Novartis MenB vaccine was administered to 30 healthy children six to eight months of age, while another 30 received a version of the vaccine without the outer membrane vesicle (OMV) antigen. Immunizations were administered at enrollment, two months later and at 12 months of age. The vaccine's protective immune response was assessed by the percentage of subjects achieving hSBA titers >1:4 using strains representing three major vaccine antigens. One month after the third dose, the percentages of subjects achieving a protective immune response were 100 percent, 100 percent and 96 percent. One month after the second dose, the percentages were 100 percent, 100 percent and 95 percent. The hSBA assay measures the body's protective immune response based on the ability of antibodies to kill the bacteria; an hSBA titer >1:4 is the threshold level accepted as providing protection against the bacteria. The vaccine was well tolerated.

Novartis is a global leader in meningitis vaccines

Novartis is a global leader in developing and providing vaccines to protect against deadly meningococcal disease. In addition to Novartis MenB vaccine, the company is developing Menveo (MenACWY-CRM), a late-stage investigational vaccine for the four other common meningococcal serogroups, A, C, W-135 and Y. Novartis is currently the only company with vaccines against all five key disease-causing meningococcal serogroups in international Phase III trials. Novartis pioneered the development of meningococcal conjugate vaccines with Menjugate, a meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine approved outside the US since 2000 for use in individuals from two months of age through adulthood. More than 26 million doses of Menjugate have been distributed. Three million doses of MeNZB(TM), an OMV vaccine against a strain of meningococcus B specific to New Zealand, have been administered to help in successfully curbing a recent outbreak there.

About meningococcal disease, a leading cause of bacterial meningitis

Meningococcal disease, a contagious and potentially deadly infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis), may occur suddenly in previously healthy individuals. It can manifest as bacterial meningitis - an infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord - or sepsis, a bloodstream infection. Each year, approximately 500,000 cases of meningococcal disease occur around the world, causing about 50,000 deaths[4]. The meningococcal B strain causes the majority of meningococcal infections in developed nations including Europe, Canada, Australia and the US. In these countries, serogroup B is responsible for 28 to 80 percent of meningococcal cases[2], [5], [6], [7]. Worldwide incidence of serogroup B disease is estimated to be 20,000 to 80,000 cases per year[8].

The symptoms - which can include sudden onset of fever, rash, headache, and stiff neck - can progress rapidly. There are effective treatments; however, the disease can be difficult to diagnose, can progress very quickly and is associated with high fatality even with appropriate treatment. Deaths can occur within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms[9], [10]. Up to 10 percent of cases are fatal and up to 20 percent of survivors are left with permanent disability such as deafness, neurological damage or limb loss[11].

Disclaimer

The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "may", "could", "potential", "encouraging", "can", "believed", "could", "dedicated", "potentially", "developing", or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential future marketing approvals for Novartis MenB vaccine or regarding potential future revenues from Novartis MenB vaccine. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results with Novartis MenB vaccine to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Novartis MenB vaccine will be approved for sale in any market. Nor can there be any guarantee that Novartis MenB vaccine will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding Novartis MenB vaccine could be affected by, among other things, unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical data and unexpected additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Novartis Group's assets and liabilities as recorded in the Group's consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis AG provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2007, the Group's continuing operations (excluding divestments in 2007) achieved net sales of USD 38.1 billion and net income of USD 6.5 billion. Approximately USD 6.4 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 98,000 full-time associates and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

References

[1] Snape MD. Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a novel serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis vaccine administered from 6 months of age. Oral presentation at the 16th International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference 2008 (IPNC) annual meeting, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

[2] European Union Invasive Bacterial Infections Surveillance (EU-IBIS) Network. Invasive Neisseria meningitidis in Europe 2006. Health Protection Agency, London 2006. www.euibis.org. Accessed September 8, 2008.

[3] Rosenstein NE, Perkins BA, Stephens DS, Popovic T, Hughes JM. Meningococcal disease. N Engl J Med. May 3 2001;344(18):1378-1388.

[4] WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record. Meningococcal vaccines: polysaccharide and polysaccharide conjugate vaccines. 40(77); 329-340, 2002.

[5] Australian Meningococcal Surveillance Programme CDI. 2007 ;31:185-194.

[6] Public Health Agency of Canada. Canada Communicable Disease Report 2007;33:3-15.

[7] CDC. Active Bacterial Core Surveillance Report, Emerging Infections Program, Neissiria Meningitidis. 2006.

[8] World Health Organization. Initiative for Vaccine Research, Bacterial Infections. Neisseria meningitidis. Available at: http://www.who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/soa_bacterial/en/index2.html. Accessed September 8, 2008.

[9] Bilukha O, Messonnier N, Fischer M. Use of meningococcal vaccines in the United States. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007; 26(5):371-376.

[10] Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet. 2006; 367(9508):397-403.

[11] CDC. Chapter 18: Meningococcal disease. The Pink Book: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Diseases: CDC; 2008.

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Edwin Gómez, gerente de compras estratégicas del laboratorio, señaló que para mantenerse competitivos la empresa también busca la manera de tener operaciones sanas, “ha habido commodities, como el papel, que nos ha impactado, que hemos tratado de solventar tanto con nuestros socios comerciales como nosotros para encontrar una solución donde salgamos menos afectados”.

Se trata, comentó, de encontrar una solución favorable para el negocio tanto de sus proveedores como de la farmacéutica, sin embargo, al final “el mercado es el que rige las cosas”.

Es en los precios de los medicamentos donde las empresas del sector no tienen tanta facilidad de maniobra para hacer ajustes, en el caso de Novartis, este factor se acentúa más en los productos de especialidad.

Para De la Peña, en “el mercado de productos farmacéuticos de especialidad el tema de costos tiene más actores, es una decisión donde no tenemos amplia libertad con todas las ventajas y desventajas que ello implica”.

La razón: más que consumidores se trata de pacientes: “Nuestro principal foco de atención es buscar el mayor beneficio para el paciente, no podemos dejar eso a un lado, alrededor tenemos que tomar en cuenta que en el mercado farmacéutico un ajuste no es tan sencillo”.

Durante la primera mitad del año, Novartis registró ventas por 20 mil 635 millones de dólares, cifra 11 por ciento superior a la de 2007, fueron medicamentos como Exforge, destinado a tratar la hipertensión o el parche Exelon para el Alzheimer, los productos que impulsaron sus ventas.

Para continuar con una tendencia positiva la farmacéutica decidió en 2007 lanzar un plan a escala global que asegurara su crecimiento, éste consiste en mejorar la productividad, optimizar la racionalización en la producción y liberar recursos para apoyar el crecimiento futuro. Según la empresa, mediante la estrategia pretenden ahorrar 1.6 mil millones de dólares para 2010, además, el impulso que mostraron los productos farmacéuticos en la primera mitad del año confirman los planes para un nuevo ciclo de crecimiento.

Mariana de la Peña, gerente de comunicación de Novartis, dijo que México durante los últimos ocho años ha tenido un mayor crecimiento: “A lo mejor no somos los más grandes pero en crecimiento Novartis México está bien posicionando, somos un mercado clave para la firma a escala global”.

La compañía cuenta con cuatro unidades de negocio: farmacéutica, vacunas, Sandoz y productos de consumo para la salud; la primera de ellas, donde se ubican medicamentos para tratar el cáncer, representa la mayoría de sus ventas con 13 mil 192 millones de dólares.

Le sigue la división de Sandoz o productos genéricos con 3.9 mil millones de dólares, después los productos de consumo para la salud, con marcas como Ciba Vision, con 2.9 mil millones de dólares y, por último, la parte de vacunas que apenas representa 591 millones de dólares.

La semana pasada, los reguladores de salud de Estados Unidos advirtieron a Sandoz sobre problemas de manufacturación indentificados en una planta de la empresa en Carolina del Norte, según una carta de la FDA.

Los inspectores de la Administración de Alimentos y Fármacos de Estados Unidos (FDA por su sigla en inglés) revelaron que la compañía tuvo problemas para validar adecuadamente su proceso de manufacturación de las tabletas de metoprolol antes de comenzar la distribución.

La misiva de la FDA está fechada el 12 de agosto. El medicamento es una forma genérica del fármaco Toprol XL de AstraZeneca.

La empresa respondió que las preocupaciones del organismo sanitario estaban relacionadas sobre todo con la documentación y validación.

Ex on line, Mexico 2 de septiembre de 2008

Det var Hans Jörg som var det kreativa esset på byrån. Självklart var det han som hade kommit på även det föregående konceptet. Han hade gått på konstskola i Berlin strax efter att muren föll och sedan dess jobbat på alla de viktiga byråkonglomeraten. Nu tillhörde han etablissemanget. Han var en man som var van att få igenom sina idéer. Copywritern Jutta tittade klentroget under lugg och frågade -Afrika? Vad ska vi göra där?

-Alla vet att rökverk härstammar därifrån, alltså blir man extremt röksugen i Afrika, svarade Hans Jörg. -Kommer inte tobaken från Amerika?, invände Jutta. -Afrika, Amerika, whatever. Det är ju knappast någon som märker någon skillnad. Båda börjar ju på A, eller hur? Dessutom har vi alltid velat åka på safari, avslutade Hans Jörg i kunglig tredjeperson.

Fy fan vad dumt tänkte projektledaren Volmar som hittills suttit tyst. Hur fan skulle han få kunden att betala en safaritripp för ett halvt kompani? Det är ju liksom inte den sortens kostnader man vill smacka upp i projektets elfte timme. Men det fanns ett ljus i tunneln. Han visste att herr Schultheiss, marknadsdirektörens högra hand, var svag för alltifrån mörkt kött och brun sprit till kakhishorts och kvasiäventyr i tredje världen. Var bara arrangemanget tillräckligt all inclusive, skulle nog budgeten kunna svällas med de nödvändiga millarna.

Den romantiskt lagda Jutta snodde snabbt och ledigt ihop ett riktigt Mitt Afrika-manus med alla nödvändiga ingredienser: En fotograf med abstinensbesvär, en snygg brud av obestämbart yrke, en gepard i språnget noslängden efter en gasell och såklart hjälten, Nicotinell. Jutta, som själv aldrig ens sett cigarettrök på film tyckte att situationen kändes både trovärdig och naturlig. Rökare är ju slavar och hon antog att man som fotograf kan bli nog så störd om rökbehovet slår till mitt i språnget på jakt efter den jagande geparden. När årets bild flyr ifrån dig i 110 kilometers fart, då vill du inte stå mitt på savannen och slå dig på fickorna desperat efter en cigg. Då är det mycket bättre att krafsa efter ett nikotintuggummi när röknödigheten sätter in.

Skönt att det finns någon som vet hur människor fungerar, tänkte Jutta medan hon släckte ljuset och slog på larmet.

Unter anderem trifft man dort auch die Geschäftsführer von imedo wieder. imedo, da war doch was?! Richtig, über imedo hatte ich schon mal hier und hier geschrieben, Stichwort Mobbing etc.

Und hier wurde ja auch schon mal von imedo der Anwalt gegen mich mobilisiert. Aber hier bei Anti-Novartis gibt's noch ein Dessert! Arger Verdacht auf Schleichwerbung mit Kumpane Novartis?! Ach ja, der Prakti war's (unbedingt die Kommentare lesen!) Herrlich wie sich der Geschäftsführer im Kreis dreht! ;-)

Big drug companies, hungry for the new products developed by innovative biomedical outfits, have escalated their acquisitions. For years they've been purchasing small biotech outfits, but now they're moving up the food chain to the industry's large fry. Chiron Corp. of Emeryville, founded in 1981, was snapped up by Novartis in 2006. And the oldest and biggest of the Bay area's three star firms, Genentech Inc. of South San Francisco, may bow to a takeover offer from another Swiss drugmaker, Roche, this year.

Meanwhile, Gilead has been shooting up the biotech ranks through steady growth of its HIV drugs. With a market capitalization of $48 billion, it's nipping at the heels of biotech giant Amgen Inc., which ranks second in the world to Genentech. Gilead plans to double its floor space through a construction boom at its Foster City headquarters, and more than double its workforce of 3,200 by 2017. The company is charging ahead as though no outside buyer is going to chart its destiny.

But after Roche stunned Genentech with a purchase offer last month, no biotech company of any size has been considered safe from a takeover bid. Gilead could be seen as a tempting morsel, said John McCamant, editor of the Medical Technology Stock Letter in Berkeley.

I will be at the Republican National Convention this week and will be blogging when I have time. I’d first like to say on behalf of Living Jersey, I would like to send my best wishes to those who have suffered from today’s hurricane. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.

So day one of the Republican National Convention went pretty smoothly considering the massive rifts in scheduling. My day started at 6:00 AM to begin preparation for the New Jersey Delegations day of “somber” filled activities. The people who are working on behalf of the New Jersey Republican State committee have really done a tremendous job at keeping patrons entertained, well fed and in as good of an attitude as possible. The day started with a lovely breakfast sponsored by the lobbyists over at Novartis and continued with a brunch sponsored by NJ State Senators Bill Baroni, Jennifer Beck and Kevin O’Toole. What followed was an even filled with great speakers, all of whom spoke eloquently and kindly of John McCain. First off former Presidential Candidate and Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee wooed the crowd with a speech filled with the respect and pride he showed for John McCain. Governor Huckabee couldn’t have been more enthused by his VP pick Sarah Palin, and declared that John McCain has the most leadership capabilities than any other active Senator.

After governor Huckabee spoke, a former POW and friend of John McCain, Major John Reynolds spoke great followed by another man, whose name I can’t remember. Than Joe McCain took the podium, the younger brother of John McCain gave an excellent speech and brought with him the coat that his brother wore, the hour before he took off for that fateful flight over Hanoi. former Governor of New York George Pataki was the keynote speaker. Pataki spoke great and really pumped up the crowd. He spoke with a fire that I rarely saw when he was governor and which made me wish he could be in office again.

After the speeches we boarded a bus to the XCell Center, where the actual Convention began. Our busses were delayed in part because “peaceful protesters” had been throwing rocks at other delegate busses, harming the busses and people inside. It’s pretty ironic that those are the same people that preach “tolerance”. Anyway, after leaving the busses we were greeted by the a little too friendly Minneapolis personal, who awkwardly wouldn’t stop saying hello, and kept on trying to shake our hands. Then we saw the “counter convention”, the Ron Paul people. The Ron Paul people at least stayed in line and weren’t hurling rocks at anyone, although they were randomly yelling Ron Paul’s name in extremely random voices, which I found funny.

Then the convention started, Robert Duncan established quorum and the boring “basics” began. It was nice and fun and I learned a lot and saw a lot. I had the privilege of hearing first lady Laura Bush and first lady to be Cindy McCain speak who both asked the crowd to donate money to Hurricane victims.

And this was the “abbreviated” day. As for now I’m off too a boat party with others from the New Jersey Delegation and whatever the gregarious Minnesota night holds. Hopefully I’ll update with you again tomorrow night, until then keep our friends in the Gulf Coast in mind and it wouldn’t hurt to say a little prayer for them.

(I will be posting pictures when i return home, so I have a can use a fast connection, internet is limited here)