Fraud and abuse in healthcare costs individual governments as much as $23 billion a year, according to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The European Public Health Alliance published its comments about the Falsified Medicines Directive currently under debate by the European Parliament and Council.

Mergers and acquisitions will contribute almost two-thirds of peer-set sales growth until 2014, according to market analyst Datamonitor.

Eli Lilly outlined its growth strategy at its annual meeting with the investment community last week.

Also, Abbott to acquire Starlims Technologies; GSK Biologicals to form alliance with Intercell.

PharmTech's monthly newsletter, Equipment & Processing Report, reviews the Editor's Picks for the December 2009 edition from Sepha and AdvantaPure.

Do advanced therapies represent medical miracles or risky business? This is the question that is debated by an Informa analyst in an Executive Briefing for Scrip.

The European Medicines Agency unveiled several changes to the organization, including a new structure and visual identity.

Company and People Notes: Also, Pfizer and Protalix enter agreement; Watson acquires Arrow Group; and more.

Personalized medicine has been described by analysts PricewaterhouseCoopers as a "disruptive influence" that will create both opportunities and challenges for traditional healthcare.

The private industry has been urged to join a public sector commitment fund in the UK to advance manufacturing R&D in bioprocessing, following the investment of approximately £9 million from two UK research councils.

European business leaders are missing opportunities to reduce their environmental footprint and drive efficiencies through document governance, according to research from Ricoh, an electronic solutions provider.

sanofi-aventis (Paris) announced last week that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU)with Prominvest.

Novartis officially inaugurated its large-scale flu cell-culture vaccine and adjuvant manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina.

The US Pharmacopeial Convention posted a proposed revised standard for what should and should not appear on the ferrules and cap overseals of medication vials.

Also, Merck & Co. extends collaboration with Idera Pharmaceuticals; Pfizer establishes R&D center in China; more...

Also, new European Generic medicines Association president begins term.

Pharmaceutical Technology talks to FDA's Justina A. Molzon about current discussions with international regulators, and how, after 20 years of harmonization activities and the common technical document, ICH has benefited regulatory authorities.

Guidance has been published in the United Kingdom regarding a new European variations regulation that comes into effect on Jan. 1, 2010.

Representatives to the PIC/S provide an example of methodology for implementing ICH Q9.

Readers can learn about the importance of measuring and controlling water activity in a comprehensive new book.

Dumbed-down presentations and poor speaker selections are destroying a valuable industry tool.

With so many healthcare and pharmacy websites, consumers could use the agency's nod of support.

Polymorph screening is a critical step in developing an active pharmaceutical ingredient for a pharmaceutical formulation.

Blame it on cafeteria gossip, outdated procedures, and major miscommunication.

The authors describe the development and organization of the Product Quality Research Institute and highlight some of the important projects conducted by its Working Groups.

It's the end of the year already and I hope you are looking forward to the festive period and the opportunity to wind down and spend some quality time with family and friends.

The end of 2009 is creeping closer and analysts are already looking towards 2010 and wondering what new challenges are in store for the pharma industry.