RSS[?]

advertisement

The Daily News Archive lists articles that have been posted within the past seven calendar days. You can filter the articles by category by using the navigation at the left.

Mar 4, 2010 - Mar 11, 2010

Medicare Regulators Halt Insurer's Part D Business
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 4:37 pm ET; Source: AP via Yahoo!
Federal regulators have banned an insurer from selling Medicare prescription drug coverage and accused it of improperly delaying and denying coverage of HIV, cancer and seizure medications.

Pelosi Suggests Dems Have Healthcare Votes
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 8:26 pm ET; Source: UPI
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested in an interview House Democrats have enough votes to approve healthcare legislation "if we took it up today."

Obama: Time for Talk is Over on Healthcare Bill
Thursday, March 11, 2010, 8:51 pm ET; Source: Reuters via Yahoo!
President Barack Obama declared on Wednesday the "time for talk is over" and urged the U.S. Congress to vote on healthcare as his health secretary directly challenged insurers to forgo profits to make coverage more affordable.

Obama Attacks Healthcare Fraud, Waste
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 8:59 pm ET; Source: UPI
U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday the healthcare system loses billions of dollars a year to fraud, waste, abuse and subsidies to insurance companies.

Gallup And Healthways Release February 2010 U.S. Well-Being Report
Thursday, March 11, 2010, 6:30 am ET; Source: BusinessWire via Yahoo!
Please be advised that Gallup and Healthways, Inc. today released the Gallup-Healthways Monthly U.S. Well-Being Report for February 2010.

CVS Caremark Corporation Announces Quarterly Dividend
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 2:04 pm ET; Source: PRNewswire via Yahoo!
CVS Caremark Corporation today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend of $0.0875per share on the Common Stock of the Corporation, payable May 4, 2010 to holders of record on April 23, 2010.

Sanofi-aventis Successfully Completes The Acquisition of Chattem, Inc.
Thursday, March 11, 2010, 8:00 am ET; Source: PRNewswire via Yahoo!
Sanofi-aventis announced today that it has completed its acquisition of 100% of Chattem, Inc., which is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the sanofi-aventis Group.

Astra Boosts Generic Exposure With Torrent Deal
Thursday, March 11, 2010, 7:11 am ET; AP via Yahoo!
AstraZeneca PLC announced a supply partnership with India's Torrent Pharmaceuticals on Thursday, its first such link with a generic drugmaker as it seeks to boost its presence in emerging markets and counter patent losses on blockbuster medicines.

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals Logs Revenue From Glaxo Sale
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 5:51pm ET; Source: Bizjournals.com
Nabi Biopharmaceuticals realized $10.5 million in revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter after collecting development payments from GlaxoSmithKline PLCfor its PentaStaph drug.

WebMD Starts Tender Offer To Repurchase Up To 5,800,000 Shares Of Its Common Stock
Thursday, March 11, 2010, 8:00 am ET; Source: PRNewswire via Yahoo!
WebMD Health Corp. announced today that it has commenced a tender offer to purchase up to 5,800,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $45.80 per share.

Mednax Buys 4 Maryland Physician Practices
Thursday, March 11, 2010, 8:21 am ET; Source: AP via Yahoo!
Health care services company Mednax Inc. said Thursday it acquired Maryland Perinatal Associates, a group of four maternal-fetal medicine physician practices.

Psychiatric Solutions Shares Rise On Buyout Report
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 4:16 pm ET; AP via Yahoo!
Shares of Psychiatric Solutions Inc. surged Wednesday after media reports said the mental health hospital operator may be bought out by private-equity firm Bain Capital.

Humana CEO Compensation For 2009 Jumps 26 Percent
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Humana-CEO-compensation-for-apf-2649654906.html?x=0&.v=4
Health insurer Humana Inc. paid CEO Michael B. McCallister 26 percent more last year than in 2008, largely because of a $1.8 million performance-related bonus.

States Trying To Keep Health Care Systems Afloat
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 5:00 pm ET; Source: Medical News Today
States are having to make budgetary decisions about their health care systems as federal legislation and funding continue to be tied up in Congress.

Pelosi Faces Biggest Test On Healthcare Vote
Wednesday, March 10, 1:02 am ET; Source: Reuters
The leader of the House of Representatives-- a persuasive arm-twister and deal maker -- faces her toughest challenge yet in the coming weeks: getting 216 votes to pass final legislation revamping the U.S. healthcare system.

Abbott to Buy Facet Biotech for 67% Premium
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 6:48 pm ET; Source: The New York Times
Abbott Laboratories announced late Tuesday that it had agreed to buyFacet Biotech for a net price of $450 million in cash, in a move aimed at expanding its drug pipeline, including for treatments for multiple sclerosis.

Neurosearch Posts 2009 Loss, Plans Active 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 8:53am ET; Source: Reuters
Danish biopharma firm Neurosearch, whose Huntington's disease drug Huntexil could become its first product on the market, reported a loss for 2009 on Wednesday and said it planned high activity in 2010.

Idera 4Q Profit Grows On Cancer Drug Payment
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 8:05 am ET; Source: Associated Press
Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday its profit climbed more than tenfold in the fourth quarter after it received a milestone payment from its partner Merck KGaA.

Bristol-Myers CEO's 2009 Compensation Down 22 Pct
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 6:57 pm ET; Source: Associated Press
The chief executive of drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., James Cornelius, received a 2009 compensation package valued by The Associated Press at $17 million, down 22 percent from 2008, due to the much lower value of his stock awards.

Amgen Sells $1 Bln Of Debt In 2 Parts – IFR
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 3:26pm ET; Source: Reuters
The sale included $300 million of 10-year notes priced to yield 80 basis points over comparable U.S. Treasuries and $700 million of 30-year bonds priced to yield 110 basis points more than Treasuries, according to IFR.

New Issue-Novartis Capital Sells $5 Bln In 3 Parts
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 3:27 pm ET: Source: Reuters
Novartis Capital Corp, a subsidiary of Novartis AG, on Tuesday sold $5 billion of senior notes in three parts, said IFR, a Thomson Reuters service.

Zix Corporation and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Extend Agreement
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 7:25 am ET; Source: PRNewswire
Zix Corporation, the only email encryption service designed with your most important relationships in mind, has renewed and expanded its contract with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, a leading North Carolina health system.

Take Care Clinics At Select Walgreens Offer Option For Camp And Sports Physicals
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 9:00 am ET; Source: BusinessWire
As kids and teens gear up for spring sports and summer camp, parents need to make sure their children have received any required screenings.

To Advance Healthcare Reform, Obama Comes Down on Insurers
Monday, March 8, 2010, 8:01 pm ET; Source: The Christian Science Monitor
Don’t shoot the messenger. That’s the response of insurance industries to the latest broadside from the White House on the role of insurance policy hikes in soaring healthcare costs.

Blue Care Network Halts Plan to Buy HMO
Monday, March 8, 2010, 4:10 pm ET; Source: Freep.com
Blue Care Network, a Detroit HMO and subsidiary of the state's largest insurer, has ended plans to buy a large Lansing-area HMO network from Sparrow Health System, the companies announced today.

State of Louisiana Awards Health Contract to Blue Cross
Tuesday, March 09, 2010, 9:10 am ET; Source: The Associated Press
The contract was previously held by Humana, and it was not immediately clear whether the employment figure would be offset by any jobs lost in the state by Humana losing the contract.

Blue Cross of Montana Lost $17M
Tuesday, March 09, 2010; Source: The Associated Press
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana lost more than $17 million on its insurance business last year, while the smaller New West Health Services posted a small gain, the companies reported this week.

Sanofi-Aventis and Merck to Create a Global Leader in Animal Health
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 2:00 am ET; Source: Business Wire via Yahoo!
Sanofi-aventis and Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that sanofi-aventis has exercised its option to combine Merial with Intervet/Schering-Plough, Merck’s Animal Health business, to create a global leader in Animal Health.

Exelixis Says it Will Cut 270 Jobs and Restructure
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 7:33 am ET; Source: AP via Yahoo!
Biotechnology company Exelixis Inc. plans to eliminate about 270 jobs, or around 40 percent of its staff, as it tries to save money and continue development of cancer drugs with Sanofi-Aventis SA and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Teva Announces the Appointment of Dr. Philip Frost as Chairman of Its Board of Directors
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 8:35 am ET; Source: Business Wire via Yahoo!
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that its Board of Directors received a letter from Mr. Eli Hurvitz indicating that he wishes to be released from his duties at Teva in order to focus on his full recovery.

Watson Says it Seeks Approval for Generic Opana ER
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 8:36 am ET; Source: AP via Yahoo!
Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. said late Monday it is seeking clearance to sell a generic version of Endo Pharmaceutical Holdings Inc.'s painkiller Opana ER. Endo filed a patent infringement suit to block the approval.

EU Pushes for Healthcare Records Share with US
Tuesday, March 09, 2010, 3:52 pm ET; Source: ZD Net UK
The presidency, currently held by Spain, wants to lay the groundwork for a bilateral agreement between the EU and US for sharing digital healthcare data, according to a statement it issued.

Walgreen's Duane Reade Widens Loss
Tuesday, March 09, 2010, 8:33 am ET; Source: The Street
The New York-based drugstore recorded a loss of $84.8 million from $17.4 million a year earlier. The results included charges of $59.5 million reflecting the probability of a near-term mandatory redemption of its preferred stock.

Aetna Wins Contract For Pennsylvania Medicaid Program
Monday, March 8, 2010, 8:32 am ET; Source: Business Wire
The State of Pennsylvania notified Aetna that it has awarded a Medicaid managed care contract to Aetna Better Health, Aetna’sMedicaid business.

Healthcare Overhaul Comes Down To Pelosi And Obama
Monday, March 8,2010, 12:07 am ET; Source: Los Angeles Times
The bill's fate depends on whether the House speaker can land enough votes - and whether the president can take control of the debate, which Democrats say he has not done.

CIGNA Simplifies Paying Medical Bills For Millions Of Customers
Monday, March 8, 2010, 9:36 am ET; Source: BusinessWire
CIGNA is announcing today that it is rolling out Intuit Inc.’s Quicken Health Expense Tracker online bill payment for its medical and pharmacy plan customers - at no additional charge.

WellCare Health Plans Names Blair Todt Chief Compliance Officer
Friday, March 5, 2010, 5:00pm ET; Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal
Blair Todt was named senior vice president and chief compliance officer at WellCare Health Plans Inc.

HumanaOne Unveils New Individual Vision Insurance Plan On Web Site
Monday March 8, 2010, 10:00 am; Source: BusinessWire
HumanaOne, the individual health division of Humana Inc., has introduced a new individual vision insurance plan on www.humanaonedental.com.

Good News For Bristol-Myers' Pipeline
Monday, March 8, 2010, 10:21 am; Source: Zacks Equity Research
Recently, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Pfizer Inc. announced that apixaban, a blood thinner being co-developed by the two companies, was found to be more effective than Sanofi-Aventis’ Lovenox (enoxaparin) in a late stage randomized, double-blind, multicenter, head-to-head study.

Isis To Receive $6M Payment From Bristol-Myers
Monday, March 8, 2010, 7:52 am ET; Source: Associated Press
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Monday said it earned a $6 million milestone payment from drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. for the acceptance of regulatory filings to start an early-stage drug trial for a potential cholesterol treatment.

Lilly To Acquire European Rights To Pfizer Animal Health Assets
Monday March 8, 2010, 9:00 am ET: Source: PRNewswire
Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly and Company, today announced that Lilly has signed an agreement to acquire the European rights to a portfolio of certain Pfizer Animal Health products.

Pfizer CEO Got $13.7 Million In 2009 Compensation
Friday, March 5, 2010, 5:39 pm ET; Source: Associated Press
The chief executive of drug giant Pfizer Inc., Jeffrey Kindler, received a 2009 compensation package valued by The Associated Press at $13.7 million, down 7.6 percent from 2008, as the board reduced the stock awards he received, citing economic pressures.

Gentiva Health Services Acquires Mississippi Hospice Provider
Monday, March 8, 2010, 8:47 am ET; Source: PRNewswire
Gentiva Health Services, Inc., a leading provider of home health and hospice services, announced today that it has acquiredMississippi-based Heart to Heart Hospice.

White House Cranks up Pressure on Healthcare
Thursday, March 4, 2010, 3:28 pm ET; Source: Reuters
The White House cranked up its push for a quick healthcare vote in the U.S. Congress on Thursday, criticizingrising health insurance premiums at a meeting with top industry executives and wooing lawmakers.

Will Obama's Healthcare Plan Reduce Costs?
Thursday, March 4, 6:27 pm ET; Source: Yahoo News
As President Obama tries this week to put his healthcare plan on a fast track toward passage, he's still struggling to persuade Americans that the plan will reduce costs.

Democrats Would Nix Healthcare Over Abortion
Thursday, March 4, 2010, 5:27 pm ET; Source: Reuters
A dozen House of Representatives Democrats opposed to abortion are willing to kill President Barack Obama's healthcare reform plan unless it satisfies their demand for language barring the procedure, Representative Bart Stupak said on Thursday.

Healthcare Reform: Three ways the House may derail Obama's plans
Thursday, March 4, 2010, 2:36 pm ET; Source: The Christian Science Monitor
President Obama has begun his final lobbying push forhealthcare reform. That is why he is meeting Thursday with different groups of wavering House Democrats.

WellPoint, UnitedHealth To Obama: We Are Innocent Victims
Thursday, March 4, 2010, 5:06 pm ET; Source: Forbes
The White House continues to demonize the insurance industry for big rate increases as it pushes for health reform. It called the CEOs of five big HMOs on the carpet today in a White House meeting with Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

BCBS-TN Expands Doctor, Treatment Comparison Tool
Thursday, March 4, 2010; Source: Tennessean.com
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has added more information to its Web site to help consumers gauge doctors' performance and compare treatment costs of certain diseases, including some heart conditions.

Australian Court: Vioxx Doubled Heart Attack Risk
Friday, March 5, 2010, 3:10 am ET; Source: AP via Yahoo!
The once-popular painkiller Vioxx doubled the risk of heart attack and was unfit for consumption, an Australian court ruled Friday, awarding a man leading a class action suit against the drug's maker 287,000 Australian dollars ($259,000) in compensation.

Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Say Clot Drug Meets Goals
Friday, March 5, 2010, 7:30 am ET; Source: AP via Yahoo!
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Pfizer Inc. on Thursday said their blood thinner apixaban was more effective than Sanofi-Aventis' Lovenox in a late stage clinical trial.

Bristol-Myers Expects Strong 2013
Thursday, March 04, 2010, 09:56 pm ET; Source: The Street
Pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb expects non-GAAP earnings of at least $1.95 a share for 2013, saying that it is "well-positioned to deliver on the promise of our pipeline."

Sanofi-Aventis Looks for More China Partnerships
Friday, March 05, 2010; Source: Seeking Alpha
Sanofi-Aventis wants to continue building its presence in China. Company officials said Sanofi-Aventis will seek additional partnerships following the joint venture announced last month with Minsheng Pharmaceutical.

DaVita Announces Chief Financial Officer
Friday, March 5, 2010, 9:00 am ET; Source: Business Wire via Yahoo!
DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today named Luis Borgen as its new Chief Financial Officer effective March 29, 2010.