Social Media takes the FDA by storm November 12, 2009

Today, the FDA began a two day session on social media. The agenda is both a fact finding mission for the FDA and a voice for social media experts from across the industry to make their case for how the healthcare products industry should be using social medial to promote its products. [...]

Piecing together the puzzle at Pfizer & Wyeth November 10, 2009

While the cuts have been known for months, Pfizer has started to announce specifics regarding how they will integrate with Wyeth’s organization.  The company expects to trim 15% off its global workforce to streamline the organization and help pay for the merger.
Yesterday, the company announced that it will move employees from facilities in Collegeville (PA),  [...]

For life sciences companies, a showdown in the Senate November 9, 2009

U.S. drugmakers & medical device companies are beginning to hit the panic button with regards to the provisions enacted upon them in healthcare legislation approved by the House of Representatives. Still, the debate is not over as the industry has one final chance to flex their collective influence as the bill reaches the floor [...]

Another big offspring, courtesy of Pfizer & GSK November 5, 2009

 
2009 seems to be the year of the ‘over-developed offspring’ in the life sciences industry.   Much like the freakish 18lb babies born to diabetic mothers in third world countries, we’ve seen some biggies this year.
Let’s start with CareFusion, the multibillion dollar hospital products spinoff from Cardinal Healthcare.  Follow that with the IPO [...]

J&J makes a bold move, will others follow? November 3, 2009

 

 
In what should go down as the most significant employment announcement of the year from the life sciences industry, J&J announced this morning that the company will eliminate up to 7% of its global workforce. In cutting 1 out of every 15 employees, J&J hopes to streamline its operations & management as well [...]

Sanofi Aventis CEO looks to animal healthcare dominance with Merck November 3, 2009

The shuffling of businesses in the life sciences industry has become commonplace in the past few years. Pfizer sold its consumer products business to J&J in an attempt to provide focus to its business model…only to acquire another in its deal with Wyeth. Now, CEO Jeff Kindler loves the concept of diversification & [...]

The House offers Device Industry a ‘50% off’ Coupon October 30, 2009

The healthcare reform debate on Capitol Hill has become tough to follow. With a new iteration proposed seemingly every week, the bill now has even its close followers confused.    At Beaker, we’re doing our best to keep up. Here’s what we understand to be the latest.
As of late this week, there [...]

GlaxoSmithkline CEO offers his report card…via Youtube October 29, 2009

GSK CEO Andrew Witty followed a legend in the world of Big Pharma, Jean Pierre Garnier. In doing so, he brings a dramatically different style and way of doing business at one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. He is direct, open, accessible, communicative and very adopting of new [...]

Should vaccine makers be heralded or criticized? October 29, 2009

The H1N1 virus and our efforts to eradicate it have certainly brought heightened attention to the life sciences industry…both good & bad. At the center of discussion are players like the FDA, CDC, HHS, Roche (Tamiflu) the medical product companies making preventative products (masks, gloves, bacterial gels, etc.), and the vaccine makers. [...]

A scary….but fun week ahead October 27, 2009

 
Happy Halloween from the crew at Beaker!

 
At Beaker, we’re always looking for the most informative & entertaining content for those across the life sciences industry.
With Halloween week upon us, we know of no better team building exercise than the video above from JibJab. We’re challenging our users to put one together with a group of [...]