Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - (Page 1) News France in the dock for ‘restrictive’ biomedical practices Following a number of unannounced raids, the European Commission (EC) is referring France’s restrictions on the ownership of biomedical laboratories to the European Court of Justice. Current French legislation states that non-biomedical firms may hold no more than a quarter of shares of companies operating biomedical laboratories. Furthermore, only pharmacists or doctors may operate the laboratories, but they cannot hold shares in more than two such institutions. The Commission said that it carried out the raids because it had “reason to believe that the provisions of the EU Treaty prohibiting cartels, restrictive business practices and/or abuse of a dominant position have been infringed.” Previously, the French authorities had agreed to abolish the restrictions no later than early 2009; however, they recently told the Commission that this deadline could not be met. For more on these news stories and all the latest breaking pharma news, look at our website www.pharmexeceurope.com 18 February 2009 ED drugmakers to face Swiss penalty Swiss Competition Commission spokesperson Olivier Schaller has said that Pfizer, Bayer and Eli Lilly have 20 days to respond to allegations that they engaged in “inadmissible vertical competition agreements” aimed at maintaining a recommended public selling price for erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs. The Commission’s investigation was initiated in June 2006. A representative for Pfizer, which markets Viagra (sildenafil), said that the company was aware of the ongoing investigation, but said it is “confident that the company has adhered to all applicable laws.” Eli Lilly spokesperson Petra Streit also maintained that the company has “respected Swiss law.” Eli Lilly manufactures ED drug Cialis (tadalafil). 2 FROM THE EDITOR Open innovation: the way forward? 3 NEWS ‘Rising Star’ award for Scottish biotech company 5 CALENDAR Upcoming pharma industry events 6 BRUSSELS REPORT Rare disease treatments’ ‘death valley’ 7 VACCINES Can Big Pharma bring vaccines to all? Vaccines for the world In this week’s lead feature, Pharmaceutical Executive’s Joanna Breitstein looks at the progress Big Pharma is making in getting key vaccines to the countries that can least afford them. But, in the current economic environment, can this be sustained? Turn to page 7. 11 MANAGEMENT THEORY Exposing executive bias 12 ONLINE NETWORKING What’s LinkedIn doing for pharma? 15 ON THE MOVE This week’s movers and shakers Jeffrey Hamilton/Getty Images http://www.weko.admin.ch
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 Contents From the Editor News Calendar Brussels Report Vaccines Management Theory Online Networking On the Move Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Contents (Page 1) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 2) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - News (Page 3) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - News (Page 4) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Calendar (Page 5) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Brussels Report (Page 6) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Vaccines (Page 7) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Vaccines (Page 8) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Vaccines (Page 9) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Vaccines (Page 10) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Management Theory (Page 11) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Online Networking (Page 12) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Online Networking (Page 13) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - Online Networking (Page 14) Pharmaceutical Executive Digest Europe - February 18, 2009 - On the Move (Page 15)
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