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Results of a study conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center show that St. John's wort, an herbal product used to treat depression, could significantly undermine the effectiveness the antiviral drug indinavir, which is often prescribed to treat HIV infection.

According to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, at its annual state of the industry conference in Washington, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies had 40 new treatments – 35 drugs and five biologics – approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1999. The medicines target 36 diseases that affect 545 million patients and cost society an estimated $600 billion a year.

Drug cost increases will exceed 18% for 2000 – leading to a significant increase in total health plan costs - according to a study from the Segal Co., a consultant and actuary firm serving human resources, employee benefits and compensation programs in the U.S., Canada and abroad.

In a merger of equals valued at $75 billion, London-based Glaxo Wellcome Inc., and SmithKline Beecham, also based in London, have agreed to join businesses – forming the largest pharmaceutical company in the world. The new company, which would be known as Glaxo SmithKline, would have an annual research and development budget of approximately $4 billion.

Christine Garabedian knew, for more than two years, what she wanted to do. She described her experience in physicians' offices: "I'd see the reps talking to doctors and I thought, 'That's what I want to do - how come no one lets me do this?' I knew I'd be good at it."

"Pharmaceutical Sales Force Structures & Strategies 1999-2000," a survey of U.S. physicians released by Newtown, PA-based pharmaceutical consulting company Scott-Levin, reveals that doctors rank Pfizer Inc.'s sales force as the most valuable. Twenty-eight physician specialty groups in nine core specialty areas – general/family practitioners, internists, pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, obstetricians/gynecologists, psychiatrists, general surgeons, gastroenterologists and cardiologists – were surveyed for this year's study. 1999 was the fifth consecutive year New York-based Pfizer finished first across the core groups.

A Danish study published in the British journal The Lancet suggests that mammograms may be unjustified in attempting to screen for breast cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration is warning patients taking Titusville, NJ-based Janssen Pharmaceutica's heartburn treatment, Propulsid® (cisapride) of new advisories concerning the drug. Propulsid is a treatment for severe nighttime heartburn in patients with gastroesophagal reflux disease who do not adequately respond to other therapies. The new measures are being recommended to help physicians avoid giving Propulsid to patients who are at known risk of rare, but serious, cardiac events associated with the drug.

Reps can make a better impact by managing the time they have.

Reps need to spend time planning, account targeting and learning about new managed care tools that drive today's operations as well as prepare us for tomorrow's growth businesses.

Schering-Plough Corp., Madison, NJ, has announced the launch of a new, 120-member primary care sales force to complement its existing hepatitis C sales team. The new force is being acquired from Triangle Park, NC-based Innovex.

A last-minute provision, passed with budget legislation, may give Massachusetts a state-run bulk pharmaceutical purchasing program.

The proposed merger between Abbott Laboratories and Alza Corp. will not be completed due to an inability to come to terms with the FTC.

Since sales success starts by reaching the decision-maker, sales representatives must find creative ways to penetrate the barriers that surround the toughest accounts.

Drugsampling.com, a computer controlled system that monitors the distribution of drug samples, is being tested in Boston's Lahey Clinic.

St. Louis-based Monsanto Co., and Pharmacia & Upjohn, Peapack, NJ, announced plans to merge.

The effect of managed care on a physician's practice.

In our quest as sales reps to provide our physician customers with a valuable sales call, it is crucial to understand what the driving forces are in healthcare delivery and how they affect these customers.

Establish the right mood with clients.

According to the Surgeon General's report on mental illness, nearly half of all Americans who have a severe mental illness don't seek treatment.

A new report on medical errors from the National Institutes of Medicine of the National Academies calls for changes throughout the healthcare system including mandatory reporting requirements. The report, titled "To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System," lays out a comprehensive strategy for government, industry, consumers and healthcare providers to reduce medical errors.

New York-based Pfizer Inc. is asking the shareholders of Warner-Lambert to vote to remove the current Warner-Lambert board of directors and replace it with seven executives that Pfizer has selected, "none of whom have any past or present affiliation with Pfizer," according to Pfizer.

According to a study of physician computer usage conducted by the American Medical Association, Chicago, the proportion of physicians using the World Wide Web has nearly doubled, from 20% in 1997 to 37% in 1999.

A report released by Palo Alto, CA-based consulting firm Health Strategies Group showed that 87% of physician contacts with pharmaceutical sales reps last less than two minutes.

There is no medical setting in which a doctor or nurse can have a more dramatic impact on a patient's life than in the emergency room.

Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) introduced a bill that would provide more information about a health maintenance organization's formulary to its enrollees.

Ways you too can set yourself apart.

How to avoid a legacy of 'to-do' lists.