Nine out of ten pharma companies in the US and Europe made significant cuts to its pharma sales force in 2010.

Results from Cegedim Strategic Data’s (CSD) 2010 audited Pharmaceutical Marketing Expenditure show that several companies in the regions made cuts of up to 10% of its sales force.

Christopher Wooden, Vice President for the CSD Global Promotion Audit, says there was a “broad trend in seeking scale efficiencies in the major western markets” last year.

However the news was more positive in China, Latin America, and Japan where many of the leading companies added new sales representatives with double digit growth recorded.

The report also revealed that worldwide spending on sales force and other marketing channels increased by 1.5% to $91 billion, compared to 2009, after an increase in spending in China, Japan and Latin America.

The amount of money spent on meetings and other events increased by 5% worldwide, whilst the use of events was up significantly in Japan (+14%), China (+19%) and Latin America (+18%). Unsurprisingly, spending was down in the US by 17% and Europe saw a decline of 7%.

“In emerging markets, the industry has quickly adopted the use of meetings and events as an efficient way to achieve high quality interaction with a maximum number of healthcare professionals,” said Mr Wooden.

“Among mature markets, Japan was a major exception with increased spending through 2010 despite flat reported sales. With patent expiry, limited R&D pipelines and accompanying industry consolidation, sales force and marketing in the mature western markets will likely be streamlined over the next few years. The future is clearly seen in Asia and Latin America.”

CSD audits pharmaceuticals marketing expenditure in more than 30 countries tracking sales force, sampling, meetings/events, clinical trials, DTC, e-promotion, print advertising and other marketing channels. More than 200,000 healthcare professionals report their exposure to industry promotional activity to help generate the report.

England is now the only country in the UK which charges for prescriptions after Scotland abolished fees.

Nearly half a million people in Scotland will benefit from the decision brought in by the Scottish National Party (SNP) Government.

Nicola Sturgeon, SNP Deputy Leader, says the move heralds “a new era of health care free at the point of need”.

The move comes on the same day that prescription fees in England increased by 20p to £7.40.

Prescription charges in Scotland have been falling for the last three years and stood at £3. It’s estimated the move will cost the Scottish Government £57 million a year with 90% of items currently dispensed free of charge to children, those on low incomes and cancer patients.

Prescriptions were free for all when the NHS was first established in 1948. Charges were first introduced in the early 1950s and now raise fees of more than £450 million.

The Department of Health defended its policy of charging for prescriptions in England insisting the money pays for thousands of NHS employees.

“This income helps the NHS to maintain vital services for patients,” said a spokesperson.

Wales was the first country in the UK to abolish prescription fees in 2008, followed last year by Northern Ireland.

NICE has taken over the functions of the National Prescribing Centre (NPC).

The NPC’s activities will be retained and will become part of a new work programme within NICE’s Evidence and Practice Directorate.

Dr Gillian Leng, who leads the Evidence and Practice Directorate, says the integration will “strengthen access to medicines information through NHS Evidence”.

The merger was approved by the DH last October as part of its plans to restructure the NHS.

The Centre was formed in 1996. It publishes a wide range of resources and supports and promotes evidence-based medicines management across the NHS through activities and events.

Neal Maskrey, Programme Director of the NPC at NICE, said: “Being part of NICE will provide an even stronger alignment of outputs and expertise.

“Within NICE, we intend that our work programme will continue to help health professionals make the best use of medicines to produce informed and desired outcomes for patients, especially in this changing NHS environment.”

Key areas of the NPC’s work include providing information for health professionals and encouraging members of prescribing and medicines management teams to interact and share best practice.

“The NPC and NICE already share a history of working closely together in helping ensure medicine usage across the NHS is high quality, safe and good value for money,” said Dr Leng.

“I would like to warmly welcome all NPC colleagues into the NICE family.”

Nycomed has submitted a Marketing Authorisation Application to the EMA for Revestive (teduglutide), its once-daily treatment for Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS).

The application was based on a randomised, placebo-controlled study that demonstrated that Revestive was effective in reducing the need for parenteral support by at least 20%.

Anders Ullman, Executive Vice President R&D, Nycomed, says the submission highlights the company’s “dedicated efforts and strong commitment to bring new and innovative treatments to patients and caregivers”.

SBS is a rare disease which typically arises after the surgical removal of the bowel due to Crohn’s disease, ischaemia or other conditions. It’s estimated to affect than 10,000 patients in Europe.

“The addition of teduglutide to the limited treatment armamentarium may increase the awareness of this debilitating condition and its submission brings us closer to an important new therapeutic option for our patients,” said Professor Palle Bekker Jeppesen, Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Revestive has already received orphan drug designation for the treatment of SBS from the EMA and the FDA.

Warner Chilcott has withdrawn its application to the EMA for an extension of indication for the centrally authorised medicine Intrinsa (testosterone) transdermal patch.

In an official letter, the company said the decision was based upon commercial considerations.

Intrinsa, which was first authorised in the EU in 2006, is currently licensed for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women.

It continues to be authorised for the currently approved indication.

The marketing authorisation for Intrinsa has been transferred from Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals to Warner Chilcott after the former submitted an application in August 2009.

At the time of withdrawal, the application was under review by the CHMP.