BREAKING: FDA approves Lilly blood-thinner prasugrel
Eli Lilly and Co. finally won approval today from U.S. regulators to sell prasugrel, its highly anticipated blood thinner,
according to Bloomberg News.
Health Care & Life Sciences
Articles
Conseco reinsurance deal swaps profits for cash
Carmel-based Conseco Inc., still a bit strapped for cash, brought in a reinsurance company to shoulder some of the risk
of its life insurance policies. Minnesota-based Wilton Reassurance Co. will pay $57.5 million to Conseco as a ceding
commission to co-insure and administer 104,000 policies held by Conseco subsidiaries.
Endocyte, Purdue develop prostate cancer treatment device
Purdue University researcher Philip Low, also the chief science officer for West Lafayette-based Endocyte Inc., has developed
a prostate cancer “homing device” to help anti-cancer agents specifically target prostate
cancer tumors.
Hilbert in-law’s life insurance dispute takes odd turn
Local businessman J.B. Carlson contends the $15 million life insurance policy he took out on Stephen Hilbert’s mother-in-law
was legitimate, because she served on his firm’s board and was a key decision-maker. The mother-in-law, Germaine
“Suzy” Tomlinson, died at age 74 last September—just 32 months after the policy was issued.
Lilly asks FDA to review weekly diabetes drug
Drugmakers Eli Lilly and Co., Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Alkermes Inc. said yesterday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
has accepted their application for the once-a-week diabetes drug exenatide.
Indianapolis benefits firms merge
Two Indianapolis benefits consulting firms have finalized their merger, the companies announced this morning. Terms of the
deal between Benefit Associates Inc. and Benefit Consultants Inc., in the works since March, were not disclosed.
Lilly cancer drug OK’d for new use
Eli Lilly and Co.’s top rising-star drug has been approved by U.S. regulators for a new use, an event that could boost sales of
the medication. Alimta, a lung cancer drug, was approved as a maintenance therapy for non-small cell lung cancer
for certain patients, Lilly announced today.
Lilly kicks lobbying into high gear
Once again, Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. is running in the lead pack in dollars spent to bend ears on Capitol Hill. And that was even before the health care reform debate got rolling.
Minority suppliers diversifying into life sciences
The Indiana Minority Supplier Development Council has made life sciences companies its latest target—part of an even larger effort to attract minorities to the burgeoning life sciences industry under
way on a national scale.
If Dow AgroSciences sells, let’s hope it’s not to a rival
Private equity firms have a reputation as ruthless acquirers. They slash fat and jettison sluggish product lines, all in a quest to wring out higher profits and grow the parts of the business with the most potential. For Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences—or at least for its 1,200 local employees—a buyer like that would be a godsend. […]
Peterson has passion for health care and new Lilly position
A new communications post at Eli Lilly gives former mayor Bart Peterson an opportunity to meld his experiences in the public
and private sectors.
Profs trying to revolutionize drug discovery process
Two chemistry professors at IUPUI are laboring to create the McDonald’s of research laboratories—a model that’s low-cost
and can spread around the world.
With Byetta’s sales stalled, Lilly unveils its own competitor
While Eli Lilly and Co. continues to work with a biotech firm on the diabetes medicine Byetta, it’s developing a potential
competitor to Byetta all on its own.
Wishard Foundation seeks new leader after CEO resigns
The CEO of the Wishard Foundation resigned last month, prompting the fund-raising arm of Wishard Health Services to tap consulting
firm Johnson Grossnickle & Associates for a replacement.
Biotechnology firm boosts its protein biz
Greenwood-based Elona Biotechnologies said it has created two subsidiaries to boost its biosimilar/biogeneric/follow-on protein
business.
Express Scripts closer to $4.7B WellPoint deal
Express Scripts Inc. has cleared an
antitrust review for its planned purchase of Indianapolis-based WellPoint
Inc.’s pharmacy benefits management business, bringing the $4.7 billion deal
closer to completion.
Commercializing science takes too long, Cook says
Taking science from the laboratory to the commercial market takes too much time and is littered with potential pitfalls along the way.
Simple invention targets blanket problem for surgical patients
In a state steeped in advanced research that spawns biomedical companies by the dozen, Apricity LLC is preposterously low-tech,
given that its latest product is nothing more than a warm blanket.
Binford medical complex takes another punch
The anchor tenant in the Binford Medical-Professional Office Complex at the corner of 65th Street and Binford Boulevard has closed temporarily, citing a lack of other tenants in the high-profile medical building. The shut-down is the latest in a string of setbacks for what was to have been a five-building, $29 million development. The Binford […]
‘Epic’ investment losses hit hospitals
Financial reports trickling in from Indianapolis’ major hospitals show why the city’s health care building boom ground to
a near halt this year. It ran into a wall of investment losses.