GSK in the Lead but Who Will Follow

GlaxoSmithKline, one of the bigger of Big Pharma, lengthened its lead in the global health business again by announcing several initiatives to address the health needs of the world’s under-served populations.  GSK, or more specifically, its CEO, Andrew Witty (visionary, iconoclastic, wrong-headed?), described them in a speech on January 20: – Patent Pool:  BIO Ventures [...]

Is there a Bottom Line Behind the Headline?

Recently, the Welcome Trust, the British giant philanthropy, and Merck and Co., a leading member of Big Pharma, announced a “first of its kind” joint venture to advance vaccine development for diseases of the low-income countries (September 17, 2009, Merck press release).  While the venture’s objectives and funding are commendable, after a closer look for [...]