New analysis by investment manager Downing LLP has shown that the number of active UK biotechnology businesses in the field of research and experimental development has soared by 65% in just over three years.

A new report from the Pan American Health Organization and PATH, ‘Immunization Data: Evidence for Action’, has launched to provide the immunization community with clear, proven strategies for improving the quality and use of immunization data.

On the back of a public consultation and advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the Pfizer's Lyrica (pregabalin) will be reclassified as a class C controlled substance from April.

The medication is used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, and generalised anxiety disorder, but can become severely addictive and has been linked to as many as 33 deaths in Northern Ireland just last year.

Novo Nordisk has reached an agreement that will hold off generic competition to its newer diabetes drugs for another five years. This means that the company can now focus on developing next-generation products and so the drugmaker said it will spend DKK650m ($97.8m) to upgrade and expand facilities at its production site in Kalundborg, Denmark.

An international group of some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies has convened to improve the detection of drug side effects.

The Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU) established the international group that consists of pharma giants such as Pfizer, Roche, BMS, Takeda, Lilly, Gilead, Alexion and Celgene to explore better ways of identifying adverse side effects from licensed medicines.