Student Health: What You Need to Know (BusinessWeek Online) BusinessWeek Online - Over 5 million college students in the U.S. lack coverage under their parents' health insurance plans. Most colleges try to fill this gap by offering a school-sponsored health insurance plan. But a school's seal of approval does not mean the plan will be sufficient in a time of need. In fact, better options may be available elsewhere. Students and parents should thoroughly examine the plan before signing up. Here are a few things industry experts say you should consider when looking for a college health plan:
Takeda sees big profit slump on Millennium costs (Reuters) Reuters - Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (4502.T) posted a 77 percent drop in quarterly operating profit as it spent to boost its pipeline, and forecast a sharp fall in annual income linked to the costs of its $8 billion-plus purchase of Millennium Pharmaceuticals.
Drugmakers need to rein in ads, hearing told (Reuters)
Reuters - Pharmaceutical companies need to be more responsible in touting products to consumers or else face tighter controls from Congress, a top U.S. Democratic lawmaker said on Thursday.
Global Piracy Rampant -- But You Can Fight Back (NewsFactor) NewsFactor - Piracy is running rampant, according to a report from the U.S. government. Not the kind of pirates with eye patches and parrots on their shoulders, but rather the kind that downloads content illegally from the Internet, counterfeits products, and generally hijacks the profits of pharmaceuticals, electronics, software, and other goods. China and Russia were singled out in particular for their weak protections of intellectual property rights (IPR).
Teva first-quarter net profit down on CoGenesys charge (Reuters) Reuters - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd , the world's largest generic drugmaker, on Tuesday reported a drop in its first-quarter net profit, weighed by a charge tied to its acquisition of CoGenesys.
Teva quarterly net profit down on CoGenesys charge (Reuters) Reuters - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd , the world's largest generic drugmaker, on Tuesday reported a drop in its first-quarter net profit, weighed by a charge tied to its acquisition of CoGenesys.
Merck to cut 1,200 sales jobs following regulatory setback (AP) AP - Merck & Co. said Monday it is eliminating 1,200 U.S. sales jobs, a move that comes a week after federal regulators' surprise rejection of an experimental cholesterol drug heavily touted by the pharmaceutical company.
Even With Liquidity Crunch, Pharma Sector Keeps Dealing (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - For all the talk of a liquidity crunch on Wall Street, you might expect to see mergers and acquisitions come to a screeching halt.
Summary Box: Congress passes genetic testing bill (AP) AP - GENETIC BILL: Congress sent President Bush a bill Thursday that would prohibit health insurance companies from using genetic information to set premiums or determine enrollment eligibility. Similarly, employers could not use genetic information in hiring, firing or promotion decisions.
CVS Caremark posts higher 1st-quarter profit (Reuters)
Reuters - CVS Caremark Corp posted higher quarterly profits in line with analysts' estimates on Thursday, as the addition of Caremark's pharmacy benefits business helped offset the impact of lower-priced generic drugs on drugstore sales.
CVS Caremark 1Q profit rises as sales climb (AP) AP - CVS Caremark Corp., the nation's biggest pharmacy chain, said Thursday that first-quarter profit jumped 84 percent, helped by surging sales in the wake of last year's purchase of Caremark.
Cigna posts sharply lower 1Q profit on hefty losses, charges (AP) AP - Health insurer Cigna says first-quarter profit dropped 80 percent due to hefty reinsurance losses and litigation charges, and says full-year earnings may miss expectations amid challenges in its health care segment.
Health savings accounts growing in popularity (AP) AP - More than 6 million people are enrolled in health insurance plans that allow them to also open health savings accounts, nearly double estimates from just two years ago, according to new industry projections.
Market wavers as drugs weigh; Citi down late (Reuters)
Reuters - Stocks ended little changed on Tuesday as setbacks for two drugs weighed down the pharmaceutical sector, offsetting the relief from a retreat in record high crude oil prices.
Today on the presidential campaign trail (AP)
AP - Obama says he's outraged by former pastor's comments, saddened by spectacle ... Obama says Clinton, McCain pandering with their gas tax holiday proposals ... McCain wants to shift health insurance from employers to marketplace ... Clinton picks up prized endorsement in North Carolina ... Kentucky Rep. Ben Chandler endorses Obama ... Heated presidential campaign increasingly souring Democrats on rival candidates
McCain seeks tax credit to help buy health insurance (AP)
AP - Republican John McCain wants to change how people get their health insurance, shifting away from job-based coverage to an open market where people can choose from competing policies.
Adwatch: McCain runs ad touting his health insurance plan (AP)
AP - TITLE: "Health Care Action."
Medco profit beats, but shares fall on outlook (Reuters) Reuters - Pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions Inc on Tuesday reported higher-than-expected earnings, helped by the use of generic drugs and medicines delivered by mail, but failed to raise its full-year profit outlook, sending shares down 7 percent.
Medco Health 1Q profit, sales top Wall Street estimates (AP) AP - Pharmacy benefits manager Medco Health Solutions Inc. said Tuesday record mail-order volume and an influx of generic drugs on the market drove first-quarter results above Wall Street expectations.
US rejects Merck cholesterol drug (AFP)
AFP - The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday said a new cholesterol drug being tested by Merck was not approvable, while the pharmaceutical giant vowed to press ahead with the application.
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