Industry Update: The Latest Developments in Therapeutic Delivery

Abstract

This Industry Update covers the period from 1–31 December 2013 and is based on information sourced from company press releases, scientific literature, patents and various news websites. In the parenteral area there was news about the development of pump technology for noninsulin applications, which provides evidence for the growth in demand for large volume subcutaneous drug delivery, a need that cannot be met using conventional injection technology. There was also considerable activity in the respiratory area with announcements on genetic competition to GlaxoSmithKline (London, UK) Advair/Seretide, a global top five selling drug as well as some news on the development and launch new respiratory drugs. The largest mergers and acquisitions deal was the much anticipated buyout of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NY, USA) by AstraZeneca (London, UK) from their diabetes joint venture and the second US $1 billion plus deal for AstraZeneca in 2013 as they strive to rebuild a late stage pipeline to offset the generic threat to their revenues over the next few years.