Gurminder Marwaha

One of the most important skills any editor must possess is the ability to listen to their audience — without feedback, we don't get an opportunity to develop our publications; to not act on feedback shows plain ignorance. I must, therefore, give my personal thanks to the many hundreds of readers who participated in the 

) editorial and readership survey, which we conducted earlier this summer. Your comments and opinions will help us develop 

, and we already have a number of exciting plans for 2006. Stay tuned! 

Staying with this year, however, you will have noticed 

 new editorial advisory board (EAB) members. An EAB is crucial to any magazine or journal wanting to publish factually accurate features that help shape and develop the industry in which it serves — and this magazine is no different. I now have the opportunity to thank those who served on the previous EAB for their input; I would also like to publicly welcome my new EAB members, who are all internationally recognized experts.  

Onto more immediate matters and life doesn't look rosy for Merck after a US jury found the drugs' manufacturer, negligent when a patient (Robert Ernst) died suddenly whilst on Vioxx. This case has serious repercussions because it is now likely to open the floodgates for other users to sue. Perhaps we are going to start seeing a trend whereby the patient power that exists in the US will manifest itself to Europe. According to reports (

) it has been estimated that Vioxx could have caused almost 28000 heart attacks or deaths since it was approved for use in 1999, and more than 4200 lawsuits have been filed against the firm over the drug. Some analysts have calculated that the Vioxx episode may represent a liability of as much as $18 billion. The company has reportedly set aside $675?million to fight Vioxx suits. 

After the ruling, Merck's attorney, Jonathan Skidmore, said: "There is no reliable scientific evidence that shows Vioxx causes cardiac arrhythmia, which an autopsy showed was the cause of Mr Ernst's death." He also added that the Texas case was a "shot across the bows" for Merck. I would say it is a shot across the bows for all drug manufacturers — they have been warned.  

Articles

One of the most important skills any editor must possess is the ability to listen to their audience — without feedback, we don't get an opportunity to develop our publications; to not act on feedback shows plain ignorance. I must, therefore, give my personal thanks to the many hundreds of readers who participated in the Pharmaceutical Technology Europe (PTE) editorial and readership survey, which we conducted earlier this summer. Your comments and opinions will help us develop PTE, and we already have a number of exciting plans for 2006. Stay tuned!

Stop, Look and Listen

API and fine chemicals companies in Asia are flexing their muscles in a bid to increase their market share in key territories. This has been demonstrated by India's Malladi Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, which earlier this summer acquired Novus, a US company, to boost its presence in the pseudoephedrine (an ingredient used in cough and cold formulations) market. Reportedly, this is the first time (and it certainly won't be the last) that an Indian API manufacturer has bought a US counterpart and drives home the message that Indian companies are looking at providing products on a global scale. The deal gives Malladi an almost vice-like grip on a third of the global pseudoephedrine market, and more importantly, a foot in the lucrative US sector.

Elsewhere, generic firm Alpharma has signed an agreement with India's Shasun, which will see the latter develop, manufacture and supply generics and APIs for sale by the former. But it doesn't just stop there for Shasun; the company has also signed an API manufacturing and supply agreement with Codexis for a generic. 

Another Indian company, Dishman, is also looking at continued expansion into 'foreign' markets. It recently acquired Synprotec, a UK-based contract research organization. Not content with increased presence in Europe, Dishman has also set up an alliance in Saudi Arabia that will see a new API plant being built in Riyadh (claimed to be the first in the region), and more significantly, gain the Indian company a presence into the Middle Eastern market.  

And just to prove it's not just Indian companies taking the initiative, Taiwan's Panion & BF Biotech has obtained a US patent on high-grade ferric citrate, which can be used as an API for the treatment of iron deficiency diseases. 

Western Europe-based manufacturers are not only under pressure from Asia, but also from Eastern Europe. Croatia's Pliva has opted to consolidate its position in the generics and APIs sectors after selling off part of its business. Meanwhile, in a desperate bid to transform the fortunes of its fine chemicals business, Lanxess, the spin-off of Bayer, is slashing its workforce by 960 and consolidating its facilities in a bid to reduce running costs by €100 million a year. Good luck. 

The price war that European-based manufacturers were so keen to avoid has started to take shape. The East has made the first move, and now it's over to Europe to decide how best to meet the challenge (surely it can't become competitive, can it?). And who said things get quiet in the summer?

Not so Fine in Europe?

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Nanotech Not Big Enough for Pharma?

The air of optimism surrounding the European biopharmaceutical industry seems to have dissipated...