President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated his campaign against high medicine costs. He issued a stark ultimatum to 17 of the world’s leading pharmaceutical firms. In a move aimed at achieving lower pharmaceutical prices, the President demanded that they slash prices for American consumers. He wants them to match what is paid in other developed nations, setting a 60-day deadline…
Tag: pharmaceuticals
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Bidvest’s Role in Adcock Ingram Takeover Bid
In a striking case of corporate déjà vu, South African pharmaceutical firm Adcock Ingram is once again the subject of a foreign takeover bid. However, the script has been flipped. Bidvest, the conglomerate that positioned itself as the company’s patriotic saviour over a decade ago, is now orchestrating its sale to an overseas partner. This culminates in a patient power…
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Trade Tariffs and Their Impact on Pharmaceuticals
The pharmaceutical industry is bracing for a significant financial blow. Analysts forecast costs of between $13 billion and $19 billion following a new transatlantic trade deal. This deal will subject branded medicines to a hefty 15% tariff. Officials confirmed the landmark trade agreement between the European Union and the United States on Sunday. It marks the end of the historic…
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Adcock Ingram to Delist Amidst Corporate Changes
Adcock Ingram, the pharmaceutical giant behind household brands such as Panado and Corenza-C, could delist from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). This follows a significant deal between its majority shareholder, Bidvest, and Indian drugmaker Natco Pharma. The news saw Adcock’s share price surge by 24%. Under the terms of the agreement, Indian-listed Natco Pharma will acquire a significant minority stake…
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Local Medicine Manufacturing and National Health Security
In a strategic move to enhance local medicine manufacturing, Sahpra aims to fast-track the approval of locally made medicines. This is an effort to secure the national supply. Sahpra’s decision aims to address drug shortages and reduce reliance on imports. Furthermore, it aims to strengthen the nation’s pharmaceutical industry through initiatives in local medicine manufacturing. In a significant move to…
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Malaria Breakthrough: First Treatment for Babies
In a breakthrough for global child health, Swiss authorities have approved Coartem Baby. Researchers have developed the first-ever medicine specifically designed to treat malaria in infants weighing less than five kilograms. The announcement by pharmaceutical giant Novartis marks a pivotal moment in the fight against a disease that disproportionately affects the youngest and most vulnerable. The new treatment addresses a…
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Dis-Chem Grapples with Retail Squeeze and Fierce Competition
Pharmacy and retail giant Dis-Chem is facing a dual threat to its growth ambitions: a critical shortage of suitable retail space. Additionally, the company disclosed in its latest annual report that there is intensifying competition across the healthcare and consumer sectors. The group identified the limited availability of profitable locations as a key risk to its core expansion strategy. This…
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Are New Cancer Treatments Worth the Price?
A significant number of cancer drugs approved since 2000, as reviewed by Bloomberg News, have never been definitively shown to extend patient survival for their approved uses. This raises questions about the growing cost of cancer treatments. The landscape of cancer treatment has been revolutionized over the past three decades, with over 200 new cancer drugs greenlit by the US…
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Ozempic and Mounjaro are reshaping South Africa’s health market
The landscape of weight management and diabetes treatment in South Africa is undergoing a dramatic transformation. This change is driven by the meteoric rise in popularity of a class of drugs known as GLP-1s, including Ozempic and Mounjaro. These medications, initially developed for Type 2 diabetes, have shown significant efficacy in promoting weight loss. As a result, there is unprecedented…
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Trump targets drug costs in sweeping executive order
US President Donald Trump has signed a wide-ranging executive order. It targets drug costs by directing pharmaceutical companies to lower their prices. The goal is to align with rates paid in other developed countries. This executive order marks a clear initiative where Trump targets drug costs. It fulfills a key campaign promise. The move was met with scepticism from analysts…
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Pharmaceutical tariffs could hike drug costs by billions
A recent analysis commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) indicates that a potential 25% tariff on pharmaceutical imports into the United States could dramatically increase the cost of medications for American patients. The Ernst & Young report estimates that US drug costs could surge by nearly $51 billion annually. This could lead to a price increase…
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Lilly’s Orforglipron Shows Significant Weight Loss in Phase 3 Trial
Eli Lilly has announced promising results from a Phase 3 trial of its oral drug, orforglipron. The trial demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing weight and blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Significant Weight Loss and Blood Sugar Control with Orforglipron In the 40-week study, patients taking orforglipron lost up to 7.9% of their body weight (approximately 16…