Pharmaceutical companies

Johnson & Johnson to pay US $417m damages in talc case

A woman in the US has been awarded US $417 million in punitive damages and compensation after a jury backed her claim that her terminal ovarian cancer was caused by using Johnson & Johnson (J&J) talc products, such as Baby Powder, for feminine hygiene, according to the Reuters news agency.…

Despite setback, new combination therapies are still the future for multiple myeloma

Several clinical trials have been stopped because of safety concerns, but pharmaceutical companies should not lose their nerve.…

ABPI applies for judicial review to challenge NHS and NICE

The ABPI has confirmed that it has applied for a judicial review to challenge a decision made by NHS England and the NICE to introduce process for medicines likely to cost the NHS more than £20m in any of the first three years of use.…

The government needs to get on with its own recommendations and speed up access to life-changing drugs

As the rest of Europe competes to rehome the European Medicines Agency (EMA) from London, minds at home are finally focusing on what that means for access to new treatments in a post-Brexit Britain. The warnings have been clear: without an effective relationship with the EMA, there is a risk t…

The Queen honours four people with connections to pharmacy

The Queen’s Birthday Honours lists recognise the achievements of a wide range of people from across the UK. The Pharmaceutical Journal has profiled four people honoured this year who are pharmacists or have close connections with pharmacy or the pharmaceutical industry.…

Q&A: Progress in seasonal influenza vaccines but world still short of capacity for pandemic vaccines

Marie-Paule Kieny from the World Health Organization discusses efforts over the past decade by the global agency to enhance seasonal influenza vaccine efficacy and production capacity, to ensure there is sufficient pandemic vaccine production, and to promote the effective development and deployment …

Improving packaging safety

In Emma Wilkinson’s excellent feature on pharmaceutical packaging design ( The Pharmaceutical Journal 2017;298:281), she stated that tall man lettering was introduced in 2009 following research by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). The packaging for Wockhardt UK Ltd’s…

EMA tells drug companies to make sure licences are valid in light of Brexit

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission (EC) has issued a notice to drug companies reminding them of their legal duties regarding any medicines that have been approved centrally in light of the UK leaving the EU.…

New legislation passed to prevent excessive price hiking of generic drugs

A new law which aims to bring tougher price control to unbranded generic drugs received Royal Assent in the House of Commons on 27 April 2017.…

Manufacturers should evaluate quality control methods for vaccines

I read with interest your news story ‘Researchers find metal impurities in vaccines, but European regulator challenges study’ ( The Pharmaceutical Journal 2017;298:76). Manufacturers have an interest and an obligation to produce all drugs, including vaccines, as contami…