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Yair Holtzman and Tom Figgatt, Sr. from WTP Advisors recently published an detailed analysis of 25 top independent firms in the biomedical device and technology industry . WTP Advisors will be one on the distinguished supplier partners of our 2012 Life Science CEO Forum. You can read the whole article at  mddionline.com.

We pulled together the top stories from the pharmaceutical industry and put them all here for you to review, comment and let us know what else we should be paying attention to this week in pharma news.

Industry Growth

• Massachusetts continues to outpace other states and countries for biotechnology industry growth and investment. BioSpace.com

• BioMarin, with five drugs in clinical trials, is seeking to buy smaller companies to expand its pipeline for treatment of rare diseases, not be acquired itself, CEO says. Businessweek.com

• Fitch Ratings says its outlook on India’s pharmaceutical sector for 2012 remains stable, with earnings prospects remaining positive because of the growing global demand for generics and opportunities provided by patent expirations in developed markets. PharmaTimes.com

Strategies in Facing Pharma Industry Challenges

• How manufacturers, physicians and patients are dealing with drug shortages. TwinCities.com

• Blockbuster drug patent expirations’ recent affect on Pfizer and Eli Lilly, and what the companies are doing to push forward. The Wall Street Journal

• Pharma overcoming research & patent expirations, moving onto cooperation BBC.co.uk

Federal Activity

• Medicaid spending on prescription drugs would fall about $17.7 billion over five years under a U.S. rule issued this week that shifts more of the cost to drugmakers and pharmacies. Businessweek.com

Company Changes

• Dendreon Corporation Taps Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Johnson as CEO BioSpace.com

Let us know what you think of these headlines or add your own top pharma news stories.

We put together a wrap up of the past week’s top diagnostic news stories and wanted to share with you

Acquistions

• Illumina continues to resist Roche’s hostile takeover bid. Reuters

Company Developments

• LipoScience Names Timothy J. Fischer Chief Operating Officer MarketWatch.com

• Industry personnel updates MassDevice.com

Report Findings

• The diagnostic imaging market will be marked by an expansion of hybrid modality technology, the growth of imaging in emerging markets and negative growth due to reimbursement cuts in the U.S., according to new report. MolecularImaging.net

• Medicare cuts, accountable care organizations to cause slowdown in diagnostic electrocardiography device market, despite a growing number of older patients who require the devices. HealthcareITNews.com

General News

• American Psychiatric Association to overhaul the criteria for diagnosing autism. Bloomberg.com

Let us know what you think of these and be sure to submit your own articles.

We pulled together the top stories from the pharmaceutical industry and put them all here for you to review, comment and let us know what else we should be paying attention to this week in pharma news.

Report Findings

• Report from the UK finds overall pharmaceutical deal-making activity fell 18% in 2011 as drugmakers cut R&D expenditure and streamlined their research activities. PharmaTimes.com

• Pharmaceutical companies, under pressure to increase R&D productivity, are expanding their use of strategic partnerships to bring new drugs to market more quickly and at lower cost, taking advantage of new business models. MarketWatch.com

Industry Developments

• Cleveland Biolabs restructures and CEO, Michael Fonstein, steps down. BioSpace.com

• Celgene Corp. said it plans to buy private biotechnology company Avila Therapeutics Inc. for as much as $925 million in cash and potential milestone payments, seeking to bolster its presence in treating blood cancers and other disorders. The Wall Street Journal

Federal Activity

• FDA focuses on evaluating medtech, pharma countermeasures for children with upcoming workshop. Clinica.co.uk

Let us know what you think of these headlines or add your own top pharma news stories.

As we look forward to next week’s Medical Communications and the Dissemination of Scientific Information Conference! Participate in and follow the discussion using #Q1MedCom.

We took a look at the past week’s top stories from the medical device industry and put them all here for you to review, comment and let us know what else we should be paying attention to.

Report Findings

• The Food and Drug Law Institute report urges FDA to reform the 510(k) approval process, suggesting new routes to approval. BeckersASC.com

• The Chinese medical device market is expected to grow 17 percent, fueled by increased demand by hospitals. MedCityNews.com

• Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, which co-sponsored last fall’s summit on medical device reprocessing with the FDA, releases summary report on safer device reprocessing. CardiovascularBusiness.com

• Report: Longer 510(k) Clearance Times a Result of a More Rigorous FDA MDDIOnline.com

Industry Development

• Boston Scientific plans to introduce two dozen new products this year, part of a plan by its new executives to broaden the device maker’s business base. The Boston Globe

• Terumo Medical acquires Onset Medical, expanding its surgical products line. NJBiz.com

User Fees

• The Health sub-committee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, set to hold hearings on the reauthorization of the Medical Device User Fee Act in mid-February. MassDevice.com

Social Media

• The importance of social media in advancing medical devices. European Medical Device Technology

Add any comments or additional news stories you’d like to share.

We pulled together the top stories from the pharmaceutical industry and put them all here for you to review, comment and let us know what else we should be paying attention to this week in pharma news.

Federal Activity

• FDA completes its recommendations for three user fee programs that will help speed safe and effective drugs and lower-cost generic drug and biosimilar biological products to patients. MarketWatch.com

• U.S. to require drug firms to report money paid to doctors in order to best regulate practices. The New York Times

• WHO warns India over drug pricing data PharmaTimes.com

Emerging Market Development

• Gruenenthal GmbH is ready to spend on acquisitions to expand its pain medicines business in Latin America as several drugmakers turn to the region to reduce their reliance on slower-growth markets like Europe. Businessweek.com

Supply Chain

• Wholesalers call for third-party monitoring of branded drug supplies and the cooperation of those working with the supply chain. PharmaTimes.com

Clinical Research

• Pfizer, along with other big drug makers, looks at streamlining clinical trials, making patient studies “virtual”. The Star-Ledger

Q1 Productions’ upcoming Maximizing Clinical Operations Conference will look at the clinical practices of leading companies like Pfizer, discussing strategies and techniques to streamline clinical trials.

Let us know what you think of these headlines or add your own top pharma news stories.

5 Reasons to Attend This Year’s Medical Device and Diagnostic Sales Training Conference

Held March 8-9, 2012 at the Wigwam Resort, Phoenix, AZ

1. Vendor Credentialing Panel - Representatives from 3 leading vendor credentialing companies (Verirep; Vendormate; Vendor Credentialing Service) along with Medtech Industry executives and the AdvaMed Legal Committee HCIR Credentialing Working Group will advise on best practices in managing credentialing and solutions for overcoming shared obstacles.

2. Maximizing Mobile Learning - Innovative mobile technology companies along with medtech organizations will share their mobile learning platforms and discuss the latest technologies and solutions for sales training

3. Q1 Conference App - Download the conference App directly from iTunes to follow along with presentations and interact with attendees and speakers from your iPad or iPhone

4. New Networking! - In addition to networking sessions between presentations,  this year’s program will include a patio cocktail reception and dinner for all attendees, speakers and sponsors

5. The ONLY conference program designed and developed specifically for Medical Device and Diagnostic Sales Training professionals!

Learn how to register here.

We put together a wrap up of the past week’s top diagnostic news stories and wanted to share with you.

Market Trends

• Advance toward an imaging agent for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease PhysOrg.com

• The biobanking market, estimated at $7.88 billion, is poised to expand as researchers continue to move toward the use of human tissues and biomaterials for primary research, and pharmaceutical and diagnostic-tool development. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Diagnostic Innovations

• Early Signs Of Inherited Metabolic Disorders Diagnosed By New Test MedicalNewsToday.com

Supply Chain

• Roche Diagnostics has begun direct shipments from Indianapolis to Luxembourg, cutting out additional handling in Chicago and temperature disturbance. FiercePharmaManufacturing.com

Let us know what you think of these and be sure to submit your own articles.

We pulled together the top stories from the pharmaceutical industry and put them all here for you to review, comment and let us know what else we should be paying attention to this week in pharma news.

Report Findings

Burdensome regulatory process seen as one of the biggest threats to the biomedical industries growth, according to a survey of California’s biomedical CEOs. MassDevice.com

U.S. biopharmaceutical companies are currently researching 282 medicines to help meet the unique health care needs of children and adolescents, according to new industry data. PharmaTimes.com

Company Expansions

Bristol-Myers Squibb to acquire hepatitis C drug developer, Inhibitex, Inc., for $2.5 billion. BioSpace.com

Pfizer is unlikely to pursue any mega-mergers but will continue to look at bolt-on acquisitions and more research alliances, according to CEO, Ian Read. PharmaTimes.com

Teva to ramp up its acquisition efforts in Asia as the company sees plenty of growth there in generic industries. FiercePharma.com

Let us know what you think of these headlines or add your own top pharma news stories.

We put together a wrap up of the past week’s top diagnostic news stories and wanted to share with you.

Research Developments

• Microsoft Research is collaborating with researchers from the University of Washington to develop smart contact lens that can directly transmit glucose levels wirelessly to the user’s eye. International Business Times
  

• Dako, cancer diagnostic supplier, enters into a development and collaboration agreement with Amgen to develop a diagnostic test for an Amgen cancer drug candidate targeted for a rare and deadly cancer as Dako continues its commitment to personalized medicine for improving patient care and managing healthcare costs. Reuters

Industry Growth

• The global market for point-of-care diagnostics, valued at $13.8 billion in 2011, is expected to increase to $16.5 billion in 2016, according to a new report. HealthcareITNews.com

Company Changes

• Neoprobe completes corporate name change to Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., reflecting company focus on precision diagnostics development and commercialization. MarketWatch.com

• Sigma-Aldrich Corporation to acquire BioReliance, a leading provider of global biopharmaceutical testing services, for $350 million. BioSpace.com

• Biomarker-based diagnostics company, BG Medicine, Inc., appoints Eric Bouvier as new CEO. MarketWatch.com

Let us know what you think of these and be sure to submit your own articles.