International Business

On the eve of World AIDS Day (Dec. 1), Johnson & Johnson announced that its Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies together with a consortium of global partners have initiated the first efficacy study for an investigational mosaic HIV-1 preventive vaccine.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and National Institutes of Health are joining forces with Johnson & Johnson to advance the potential prevention option, which is designed to be a “global vaccine” that could prevent a wide range of viral strains responsible for the HIV pandemic.

Mylan is launching its latest generic with its partner, South Africa-based Aspen. The companies are introducing their generic of Otsuka’s Myleran (busulfan, 6 mg/ml) injection.

The product is indicated in combination with cyclophosphamide as a conditioning regimen ahead of allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Mylan said that it has one of the largest injectables portfolios in the industry, and is among the leading cancer medicines suppliers by volume in the United States.

Moberg Pharma last week named Jeff Vernimb VP global consumer health as the company reorganizes its sales and marketing operations to reflect the company's increased focus on the North American market.

Coastal Salt & Soul, a holistic bath and body company specializing in sea-to-skin body care products, has announced it has been acquired by Celebrate Beauty Brands — a subsidiary of Beauty Partners.

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba once said, “You should learn from your competitor, but never copy. Copy and you die.” As the Chinese consumer healthcare market continues to rocket forward, what can we learn from them?  For my dollar — or yuan — quite a bit.

Takeda Pharmaceutical is testing its Zika virus vaccine candidate, TAK-426, in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The Osaka, Japan-based company’s first trial for the vaccine comes 15 months after the Dept. of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, awarded it a contract to develop it.

Swedish cosmetics brand, IsaDora is making its debut in the U.S. market. The beauty company has partnered with Walgreens to launch a range of products, such as mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow and lipstick on the retailer's website.

On the heels of its appointing a new CEO, Teva is restructuring itself and naming new executives in an effort it said would create strategic alignment across its portfolio, regions and functions and drive profits as it continues to face headwinds.