Drugs Companies Scarred by US Watchdog's Tougher Stance

US regulators are taking an increasingly tough stance on approving new drugs after a series of safety scares. Wyeth, the US pharmaceuticals company, said four out of five attempts to launch new medicines on the US market had been delayed by the US food and drug administration (FDA). Regulatory problems are hitting firm's share prices. On Thursday, for example, AstraZeneca's market value fell by £1.3bn after the FDA said it was reviewing the safety of its biggest seller, Nexium, and Prilosec.