October 13, 2011
111 notes
Pfizer, Humana form research pact on elderly health
The five-year partnership, announced on Thursday, will focus initially on three chronic conditions: pain, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease.Humana is one of the largest providers of plans under Medicare, the U.S. government health plan for the elderly. Pfizer is the world’s largest drugmaker.The companies cited U.S. Census projections showing that over the next 10 years the Medicare-eligible population is expected to grow to 65 million — a 36 percent increase from 2010. The collaboration also could evolve beyond seniors in the longer term, the companies said.The companies will seek “to develop an important body of knowledge” to advance their work, said William Fleming, vice president of Humana Pharmacy Solutions.The companies will seek to study prescription drug use and how it affects areas such as cost and quality of care and patient outcomes, Fleming said.One result, he said, could be that it affects how Humana designs its benefit and coverage plans or develops programs to influence how seniors take their medications.James Harnett, Pfizer’s senior director of U.S. health economics and outcomes research, said the information generated through the partnership could influence decisions about the company’s development products.
October 12, 2011
6 notes
UPDATE 1-Levi profit rises as demand in India, China grows
Revenue growth in Asia Pacific was primarily driven by the
Levi’s brand and expansion of the company’s retail network in
China and India, which offset a decline in Japan, the company
said.In the Americas region, where Levi Strauss gets half its
business, revenue rose 7 percent.However, gross margins slipped to 47 percent from 49 last
year.”In the third quarter, we saw continued revenue growth from
the Levi’s brand in markets around the world, but increased
cotton costs continued to put pressure on the margins of all our
products,” Blake Jorgensen, chief financial officer, said.Levi Strauss is a private company, but reports quarterly
results because it has publicly held debt. The company reported
net debt of $1.75 billion, compared with $1.6 billion at the end
of 2010.
UPDATE 1-Levi profit rises as demand in India, China grows
Revenue growth in Asia Pacific was primarily driven by the
Levi’s brand and expansion of the company’s retail network in
China and India, which offset a decline in Japan, the company
said.In the Americas region, where Levi Strauss gets half its
business, revenue rose 7 percent.However, gross margins slipped to 47 percent from 49 last
year.”In the third quarter, we saw continued revenue growth from
the Levi’s brand in markets around the world, but increased
cotton costs continued to put pressure on the margins of all our
products,” Blake Jorgensen, chief financial officer, said.Levi Strauss is a private company, but reports quarterly
results because it has publicly held debt. The company reported
net debt of $1.75 billion, compared with $1.6 billion at the end
of 2010.
