WRAL Tech Wire

GSK, Merck slash cost of cervical cancer vaccine 95% for use in poorest countries

Two drug giants with substantial operations in North Carolina are drastically cutting the costs of their cervical cancer vaccines as part of the first large-scale effort to get the shots to girls in the world's poorest areas.

 Targacept's 4Q loss widens to $15.9M

 Merck to pay $688M to settle suit from investors over cholesterol drugs

The deal settles two long-running lawsuits brought by investors who alleged the drugmaker delayed releasing bad news on its blockbuster cholesterol drugs to prevent a drop in sales.

 Chemistry among people, companies is crucial to biochemistry deals

Finding the right chemistry is crucial to biotech deals, as two major life science partnerships in the Triangle have shown this year: GSK and Liquidia; Merck and Chimerix.

Drug deal

 Merck licenses HIV compound from RTP-based Chimerix

In exchange for exclusive worldwide license and funding the drug development and commercialization costs, Merck will pay Chimerix $17.5 million on top of royalties on future sales and milestone payments of up to $151 million.

 Merck investing $15M to expand, renovate Wilson NC facility

Drug giant Merck will invest $15 million to update and expand its facility in Wilson. However, no new jobs are planned, the Wilson Times reports.

 Merck CEO to take over as chairman Dec. 1

The drug giant also receives approval from the FDA for a drug that treats type 2 diabetes and cholesterol problems.

 Merck to close former Inspire HQ in Raleigh, cut 51 workers

The drug giant recently purchased Raleigh-based Inspire Pharmaceuticals. In a notice filed with the state, the expected closure of Inspire's offices is made official.

 Merck wraps up $430M Inspire deal, will close Raleigh HQ

Some company executives will be leaving the eye drug firm as it is absorbed by the pharmaceutical giant.

 Merck names its president to replace CEO

Richard Clark will remain chairman of the drug giant when Kenneth Frazier assumes CEO role. Merck operates a vaccine manufacturing plant in Durham.

 GSK drug reduces prostate cancer risk, FDA panel says

Merck drug also receives support, but reviewers express concern about the overall benefits of the drugs.

 Next big thing? Big cholesterol drop with new drug

An experimental Merck drug safely boosted good cholesterol to record highs while dropping bad cholesterol to unprecedented lows in a study that stunned researchers and renewed hopes for an entirely new way of lowering heart risks.

 Rx for $$$: Pfizer, Merck report strong quarterly sales results

The drug giants, which are growing their presence in the Research Triangle region, say first-quarter sales were strong. Wyeth acquisition boosts Pfizer. But Schering-Plough acquisition costs hurt Merck profits.

 Merck swallows Schering-Plough and becomes No. 2

The two pharma giants completed the deal after the markets closed Tuesday, and the new Merck moved up from being the No. 8 drugmaker. creating the No. 2 drug-maker

 Merck, which is expanding plant in Durham, reports bigger profits

 Wyeth plant in Sanford closer to new ownership by Pfizer

Shareholders of drugmaker Wyeth on Monday voted overwhelmingly to be bought by industry giant Pfizer Inc., pushing aside one of the deal's final hurdles.

 World Health Organization approves GSK cervical cancer vaccine

Cervarix could save 'millions of women's lives throughout the world,' GSK exec says. Drug giant is seeking FDA approval in U.S.

 GlaxoSmithKline’s cervical cancer vaccine protects against five viruses, study shows

 New study backs diabetes drug Avandia, GSK says

Drug giant releases results of its own study at diabetes conferencing that it says downplays heart attack risks. WHO, meanwhile, endorses GSK diarrhea drug.

 FTC clears GSK's $3B buyout of Stiefel Labs

Federal regulators on Tuesday cleared British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline's $3 billion takeover of U.S. dermatology business Stiefel Laboratories Inc.