The deal with Somaxon is P&G’s only one in which its sales reps promote a prescription drug developed by another company.

Akebia Therapeutics Inc. has begun a Phase 2a clinical trial of its orally administered anemia drug.The company recently completed a Phase 1b trial of the drug, called AKB-6548, that showed an increase in erythropoietin, immature red blood cells and hemoglobin with “no significant adverse events,” according to a statement from the Cincinnati-area drug developer. Erythropoietin [...]

The Biotechnology Industry Organization international convention returns to Chicago this week — a nod to the importance of pharmaceutical and therapeutic companies in Midwestern states like Ohio.Drugmaking has history in Ohio.From Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: PG) in Cincinnati (sold last year to Irish drug company Warner Chilcott), to generic drugmakers Ben Venue Laboratories (Bedford) [...]

Blue Ash Therapeutics has raised more than $2 million to help push its first and only drug across the regulatory finish line with a pivotal clinical trial.Started more than a year ago by pharmaceutical industry veterans Greg Flexter and Kevin Malloy, the Cincinnati company is finishing development of Azimilide, a drug that can work alongside [...]

The University System of Ohio’s 14 universities and consumer product giant Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) in Cincinnati have agreed to simplify the legal process of negotiating joint research projects with the intent of bringing ideas to market faster.Having a master contract to which a project’s unique terms could be added is expected to speed [...]

The Irish company that acquired Procter & Gamble Co.‘s pharmaceutical division last year is shutting its Mason, Ohio, office to boost its operational effectiveness, cutting about 250 jobs, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.Warner Chilcott plc plans to consolidate the work done in Mason at its U.S. headquarters in Rockaway, N. J., according to an internal [...]

A sale of Youngstown’s Forum Health, which is reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, to Nashville, Tenn., hospital system Ardent Health Services hinges on successful negotiations with unions representing about 3,500 Forum workers, unnamed sources told the Tribune Chronicle.

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland did not mention the terms “biomedical” or “health care” in his State of the State address at noon today. However, Strickland did announce several business investment, research and worker-training programs that could help companies in these industries grow and create jobs.

Prilosec OTC today launched the “Official Sponsor of Everything You Do Without Heartburn” program to help consumers enjoy their passions (excluding heartburn).

The Cleveland Clinic has received a $2.75 million federal grant to study the use of stem cells in treating multiple sclerosis, received a grant of more than $123,000 from NFL Charities to explore treatments for shoulder instability, licensed a system to replace damaged or severed mitral valve chordae in the heart and invested $100 million in digital record-keeping.