As a recent report suggested, advanced Parkinson’s disease is very poorly served with current pharmacological therapy. As such the FDA’s non-approvable letter for istradefylline (KW-6002) represents a major setback for Kyowa Hakko. The company had intended for the novel drug to gain approval as an adjunctive treatment in advanced Parkinson’s disease. However, the FDA’s decision is good news for Eisai, as it will reduce competition to its late-stage Parkinson’s disease compound, E2007.

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Consumers’ desire to improve personal appearance is on the rise, the expected spending on cosmetic surgery in Europe and the US combined to top US$28 billion by 2011. However, the fastest growing area of cosmetic surgery has been minimally invasive procedures, such as botox injections, which have soared over the last decade. Whilst the added convenience and cheaper cost have contributed to their rise, a new report reveals that products with added convenience are increasingly being sought after. As such, we expect the marketing of professional personal care products as alternatives to cosmetic surgery is the next step in this progression.

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The Queensland Environmental Protection Agency’s desktop program has replaced 2,500 obsolete PCs. They put in place procedures to dispose of the redundant equipment responsibly, and addressed other environmental issues found in the IT environment. While not expected to be at the forefront of thinking on ‘green’ issues, the organization is leading the way for other public sector bodies in Australia.

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Thalidomide, banned 50 years ago, as a morning sickness drug and sedative for insomnia, has now received EU approval to treat bone marrow cancer. Europe’s drug regulators, European Medicines Agency, have granted authorisation for the drug to be used in combination with other drugs to treat multiple myeloma.

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A new report, The Status of Gas TSOs, in Europe states that gas transit is set to play a significant role in the European gas landscape.

In 2007, the second round of market liberalisation by the European Commission created some ripples. The Commission found that lack of coherence in the powers and remits of national energy regulators was one of the biggest hurdles to a well-functioning EU energy market.

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Despite the evidence that major world economies are heading for trouble, the vast majority of wealth managers seem unconcerned. Only five of the 65 wealth managers Datamonitor surveyed across the globe say that a potential recession most worries them. This will be to their detriment, and to the advantage of those banks that do take action now. Three new reports foresee a sustained economic downturn in 2008–09 that will have a significant negative impact on money managers. Despite this, as late as September 2007 most of these companies did not believe there would be a downturn, putting them at risk of losing both their clients and their investment returns.

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SIPP providers say that group SIPPs are the future for pension savings.

UK-based pharma giant, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has become the first FTSE 100 company to offer employees a group option for self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs).

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Industry experts believe that Indian vehicle manufacturer, Tata Motors, are gearing up to take over Ford’s marques Jaguar and Land Rover. If the deal goes through, it will represent the first time that a major western car group has been bought by an Indian company. Financial Times reported that Jaguar bosses have said they are ‘relaxed’ about the impending takeover by India’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles.

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According to a new report, Americans and Europeans are increasingly choosing to drink alcohol in their homes because they are becoming inclined to compromise their quality and sensory needs when making the choice to stay at home rather than go out for a drink.

Also, consumers concerned with signs of wider economic uncertainty in the housing and credit markets are increasingly likely to adjust their spending, cutting back further on going out drinking. Now, manufacturers and marketers can respond by targeting the associated rise in at-home meal occasions and the complementary relationship between alcohol and food.

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Brewing giant SABMiller has completed the €816 million takeover of Dutch Brewer Grolsch. Upon confirmation of the takeover, SABMiller announced plans to move into the emerging markets of South America and Africa with its portfolio of higher margin premium beers, including the newly acquired Grolsch brand, evidencing how the trend towards premiumisation is driving the global beer market.

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