Pharma Roundup: GSK Cuts 1,800 Reps, Osiris and Genzyme in $1.38 Bil. Stem Cell Deal, and More

(MoneyWatch)  GlaxoSmithKline cuts 1,800 sales reps -- The final total promised yesterday is a big one, with 1,000 jobs eliminated and the remaining 800 reassigned from pharma to vaccines. GSK's U.S. headquarters, meanwhile, will be consolidated in North Carolina. [Source: WSJ Health Blog]

Osiris and Genzyme stem cell deal worth billions -- The two firms will cooperate on developing and marketing Prochymal and Chondrogen; an analyst told the Baltimore Sun it was the biggest deal ever in the adult stem cell therapy field. The deal could be worth up to $1.38 billion for Osiris. [Source: PharmaTimes]

Speculation mounts on Obama's FDA pick -- We've barely elected him, but pundits are already discussing Obama's possible choices to lead the FDA. Dr. Steven Nissen, a cardiovascular researcher known for stringent standards on safety issues, seems to be at the head of the blogosphere's list. [Source: CNBC's Pharma's Market blog]

Roundup on transparency policies at 11 firms -- Ed Silverman, at Pharmalot, has compiled a fascinating report. Wondering whether Glaxo's $150,000 cap for gifts to physicians actually matched policies at its peer companies, as GSK claimed, Ed asked those peers what their policies were. Be sure to check out the responses. [Source: Pharmalot]