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September, 2006 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India |
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Vioxx not populi afterall.
Drug companies will struggle to pass safety test.
“Vioxx is a crystallizing event for the drug industry.” Roger Longman, managing partner at Windhover Information, a health care information company was quoted in a news paper commenting on the withdrawal or Merck’s arthritis drug Vioxx.
This withdrawal will make it harder for drug companies to win approval for products aimed at big patients populations, as regulators demand ever- greater proof that they are safe, analysts said. Drug company executives will discuss this fallout and other challenges facing the industry at health summit in New York, in November.
“These are troubling times” an analyst commented on the American stock Exchange Pharmaceuticals Index hitting its lowest level in the past year and a half. This withdrawal has not only turned the spot light on pharma companies but also on those who regulate them.
If this wasn’t enough, to make matters worse for the pharma industry, the flu vaccine being contaminated before leaving the manufacturing facility shortly succeeded the withdrawal of Vioxx. Since the industry has been under intense scrutiny by the lawmakers and it has decided to publish at least one of its clinical trials on a public website.
While drug companies will not seize releasing drugs for big patient population, the hurdle of getting them approved has been raised. And crossing this hurdle has become only more capital-intensive say analyst.
Date: 28-Nov-2004
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