NEWS OF THE WEEK BUSINESS
DOMINANCE Nine of Pfizer's top 10 drugs exceed $1 billion in sales 2002 SALES ($ BILLIONS)
Lipitor Norvasc Celebrex/ Bextra Zoloft Neurontin
$7.97 3.85 3.52
Viagra Zithromax Zyrtec Diflucan Xalatan
1.74 1.52 1.12 1.11 0.93
2.74 2.27
NOTE: Italics indicate drugs that will be acquired with Pharmacia.
PFIZER, PHARMACIA CONSENT TO FTC DEAL Drug firms move closer to combining, cementing position as industry leader
P
FIZER AND PHARMACIA ARE
on course to complete their merger next month. The companies recently agreed with the Federal Trade Commission on required divestitures. European regulators gave their conditional blessing in late February. The deal—valued at $60 billion when announced injury 2002 and now worth about $55 billion at current stock prices—will secure Pfizer's ranking as the world's largest drug company based on roughly $41 billion in annual pharmaceutical sales and a market
SCIENCE
share of nearly 11%. Its closest rival will be GlaxoSmithKline, with about a 7% share. Although Pfizer and Pharmacia aren't being specific about the products FTC wants divested, the companies say they are "not material, either individually or in aggregate, to the company's business or operations." And they've already signed agreements with buyers for all the assets they are selling. FTC's final review should soon be made public. European regulators are insisting the companies sell the an-
EDUCATION
MENTORS LAUDED White House honors educators in science, math, and engineering
F
engineering. The National Science Foundation administers the award program. The award winners involved in chemistry or chemical engineering are Enrique V Barrera, associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, Rice University; R. David Bynum, associate professor of biochemistry and cell biology, State University ofN e w a r k , Stony Brook; Chung-Chiun Liu, professor of chemical engineering and Wallace R. Persons Professor of Sensor Technology & Control, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; and Martha L. Mecartney, professor of HONORED From materials science and engineering, University top, Barrera, Bynum, Liu, and of California, Irvine. Their numerous creMecartney.
OUR PROFESSORS WITH TIES
to chemistry were among 10 educators who received Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics & Engineering Mentoring last week. Six institutions were also honored at the Washington, D C , ceremony Awardees, who receive grants of $10,000, are recognized for providing encouragement and guidance to groups that are traditionally underrepresented in science, math, and
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tihypertensive Ketensin and the animal antibiotic Parkemoxin, which have combined annual sales ofjust $2.5 million. They also have to shed three compounds in development: darifenacin for overactive bladder, and apomorphine nasal spray and P N U 142774E for erectile dysfunction. Novartis will acquire darifenacin from Pfizer for up to $225 million, contingent on certain marketing approvals. The drug, trade named Enablex, went before FDA in December 2 0 0 2 and, if approved, could reach the U.S. market in 2004; European approval is expected in 2004. Although many analysts expect that Enablex could be a $1 billion drug, Pfizer will still own plenty of other blockbusters; when the merger is done, the company will have four of the world's largest sellers, including the number one drug, Lipitor-ANN THAYER
ative outreach activities include Barrera's "Materials Magic Show" for minority students in elementary and secondary schools and Bynum's "Bridges to the Baccalaureate," which provides summer research opportunities for minority students who want to go into biomedical careers. Liu has mentored junior women faculty. And Mecartney has developed summer programs for middle school teachers from low-income communities. The institutions or programs that received awards are Arizona State University's Strengthening Understanding of Mathematics & Science Institute; Arizona Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement; Raytheon's College/Precollege Mentoring Engineering Program; Western Washington University's Shannon Point Marine Center; Southern University and A&M College's Timbuktu Academy; and the W o m e n in Engineering Programs & Advocates Network.-SOPHIE WILKINSON HTTP://WWW.CEN-ONLINE.ORG
