Drug marketing was up last year
WASHINGTON (AP) — The pharmaceutical industry won approval to market a record number of new drugs for rare diseases last year, as a combination of scientific innovation and business opportunity spurred new treatments for diseases long-ignored by drug companies.
Drug companies are increasingly taking advantage of the commercial benefits of developing so-called orphan drugs, which include extra patent protections, higher pricing and a streamlined review process by FDA.
Eleven of the 30 new drugs approved last year, or 37 percent, were for rare medical conditions.
A couch potato can earn rewards
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Want to earn stuff by watching TV? A free app for that was set to debut Wednesday.
When you tap the screen, Viggle's software for iPhones and iPads listens to what's on, recognizes what you're watching and gives you credit at roughly two points per minute.
Rack up 7,500 points, and you'll be rewarded with a $5 gift card from retailers such as Burger King, Starbucks, Apple's iTunes, Best Buy and CVS, which you can redeem directly from your device.
But the company plans to offer bonus points for checking into certain shows such as "American Idol" and 1,500 points for signing up. You can also get extra points for watching an ad on your device.
The idea behind Viggle is that by giving people an added reason to watch TV, the size of the audience will increase, thereby allowing makers of shows to earn more money from advertisers.
The app will also give the company insight into who is watching what, as redeeming rewards requires putting in your age, gender, email address and ZIP code.
Weather Channel aims to expand overseas
NEW YORK (AP) — The Weather Channel has a new chief executive, and he's forecasting expansion overseas.
The Weather Channel Co. says it appointed veteran digital executive David Kenny as its new chairman and chief executive. Kenny succeeds Mike Kelly, who will be a special adviser to the company.
Kenny is on Yahoo's board of directors and most recently has been president of Akamai, a cloud platform serving mobile and Internet users.
He said he'd like to see the company move more swiftly to establish its websites and mobile applications in overseas markets where it is now a small player. That takes precedence over trying to establish a television presence overseas, he said.
$2 billion Nissan plant set for Mexico
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nissan Motor Co. announced Wednesday that it was investing $2 billion to build a new manufacturing plant in Mexico.
It will be the Japanese company's third in the country, helping it serve markets throughout the Americas.
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