Sanofi-Aventis, Genzyme Are on the Brink of a Merger

It seems that months of merger talks between French pharma Sanofi-Aventis and U.S. biotech Genzyme have entered the home stretch. This week, Sanofi is expected to offer $74 a share for Genzyme, with an option included potential…

Pfizer Joins Other Pharmas in Giving a Cautious Outlook

Pfizer reported fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday that nearly quadrupled from a year ago as revenue rose 6%. But it also lowered its sales guidance for 2012, due to some of its bestselling drugs going off patent. What’s ahead …

As Diabetes Explodes, Big Pharma Is Gearing Up

Diabetes is a growing global scourge, but for Big Pharma it’s more of a lifesaver — and many drugmakers are cranking up their research efforts. After all, many existing drugs will soon be losing their patents, and diabetes cou…

Glaxo Faces First of Many Possible Avandia Trials

Did GlaxoSmithKline’s blockbuster diabetes drug Avandia cause fatal heart attacks? The first federal trial of an Avandia lawsuit began this morning in Philidelphia. As many as 50,000 more lurk in the wings.
Con…