Medical devices shine

Shares in medical technology companies, having lagged broader indices last year, are now enjoying a respite and have edged by nearly 5% this year

Novartis delivers

After a weak fourth quarter, the Swiss pharmaceuticals company announced first-quarter net sales and operating profits that significantly exceeded analysts’ expectations

Astra and generic drugs

The Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company’s share price rose about 7 per cent on news it had settled a US patent challenge to the world’s second biggest selling drug

Takeda/Millennium

Japan’s $100bn drug industry has long struggled to be a force on the international stage. Is Thursday’s all-cash deal, which sees Takeda pay $8.8bn for the equity of Millennium Pharmaceuticals of the US, the perfect prescription?

Nestlé to sell Alcon

Nestlé has announced that it is to sell its 77 per cent stake in US-listed Alcon to Novartis, in two chunks

Pharmaceutical ills

Pharmaceutical companies often warn investors that their industry has long horizons. But a long-term look at drug sales trends in the US is downright depressing

Merck and Schering-Plough

Doctors’ negative reactions to a failed study on Vytorin, a top cholesterol-fighting drug marketed by Schering-Plough and Merck, have probably left some of the companies’ own executives clutching their chests

US health insurers

Medical costs for health insurers WellPoint and Humana have risen more than expected this year. The news sent out a warning over unanticipated cost acceleration and burned share prices to a crisp

Patent problems