—Resisting Health Care Reform “Drugmakers find fault with overhaul plan” Legislation moving through the House of Representatives that would overhaul the $2.5 trillion health care system would hurt patients and kill jobs, the drug industry charged last week. The drug industry “remains committed to working with the Administration and Congress to help enact comprehensive health care reform this year,” says Ken Johnson of the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), a trade group that lobbies on behalf of brand-name drug companies. “Unfortunately, the totality of the efforts in the House, while well intentioned, represents a step in the wrong direction in the health care reform debate,” Johnson adds. The House Energy & Commerce Committee narrowly approved legislation (H.R. 3200) on July 31 that is designed to provide health care to 50 million uninsured Americans.
by Glenn Hess | August 10, 2009
—Drugmakers Expand In Animal Health “” Bayer HealthCare has agreed to acquire the U.S.-based animal health business of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries for $60 million plus up to $85 million in milestone payments. The transaction includes a companion and food animal drug facility in St. Joseph, Mo., and around 300 employees.
by Michael McCoy | September 24, 2012
—Elanco and Ginkgo launch animal health company “” Elanco Animal Health and Ginkgo Bioworks are launching BiomEdit, a company that will use microbiome science to develop drugs, nutritional products, and disease-monitoring methods for livestock. The new firm hopes to address antibiotic resistance and improve sustainability.
by Matt Blois | April 16, 2022
—Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline combine consumer health care businesses “New venture will operate as a separate company owned by GSK” Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline plan to merge their consumer health product divisions into a joint venture in which GSK will hold a 68% stake. Continuing a shuffling of over-the-counter (OTC) drug businesses between big drug companies, the deal will effectively merge Pfizer’s consumer health business with GSK’s, after which GSK will operate as two separate companies. With combined sales of $12.7 billion in 2017, the new venture will be the world’s largest consumer health business, with leading positions in categories including pain relief and vitamin and mineral supplements. Brian McNamara, currently head of GSK’s consumer health care business, will be CEO of the new joint venture. The announcement follows GSK’s acquisition of Novartis’s stake in their consumer health venture, a deal that transpired in April 2018 a week after GSK dropped out of the bidding for Pfizer’s consumer health care business. More recently, the company acquired the cancer drug firm Tesaro for $5.1 billion.
by Rick Mullin | January 07, 2019
—Cleaning solvent poses health risks, EPA says “” Use of 1-bromopropane in dry-cleaning solvents, spray adhesives, and degreasers poses a risk of developmental effects to children born to mothers who have been exposed, a draft assessment by EPA concludes. The chemical also poses cancer and other health risks to workers who are repeatedly exposed to it, EPA’s assessment finds.
by Britt E. Erickson | March 14, 2016
Congress probes environmental health institute director “” Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are calling for an investigation into whether Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, violated an antilobbying law. In a Dec. 18 editorial summarizing a special PLOS Biology issue on chemical regulation in the U.S., Birnbaum and one of the journal’s editors urged citizens to “work to ensure our government officials pass health-protective policies based on the best available scientific evidence” (PLOS Biol. 2017, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2004814).
by Britt E. Erickson | January 29, 2018
—Health Experts Seek Pause In Shale Drilling “” Public health advocates are calling for a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing while the potential health and environmental effects of the natural gas drilling process are studied. The gas industry should establish a foundation to finance studies on the technology, which is commonly known as fracking, Jerome A.
by Glenn Hess | January 16, 2012
—Groups seek better health standards for radiation “” Federal agencies need to change their health standards for radiation and radionuclides to protect those most at risk, according to a campaign launched last week. A coalition of scientists, physicians, advocates for children's health and environmental justice, and women's groups wants President George W.
October 23, 2006