George Koroneos, Online Content & News Editor

Drug manufacturers came under fire at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce?s health subcommittee for bumping drug prices 10 percent this year. Pharma claims rumors that it?s boosting costs in anticipation of healthcare reform are baseless, but the industry could be facing an uphill battle.

With the fourth quarter quickly coming to a close, talks of job cuts are once again in the air. The first major layoffs could be coming at Sanofi-Aventis, which is rumored to be slashing up to 1,500 positions.

Nearly 70 pharma execs, new media mavens, and even Joe Q. Public packed last week's FDA social media hearings to plead for some form of guidance on how to handle Tweets, blog comments, and off label discussions online.

Following through with its promise to waste no time in merging Wyeth and Pfizer, the pharma giant announced restructuring plans for its global research network.

Johnson & Johnson announced a massive restructuring plan on Tuesday in an effort to save $1.4 billion to $1.7 billion by 2011. The human cost: 7 percent of its workforce.

GSK is being ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution to a Pennsylvania family. The firm was accused of not doing enough to warn consumers that taking the antidepressant Paxil, while pregnant, could lead to birth defects.