A proposed deal between Pfizer and Mylan, pharma giants which between them employ around 4,500 people across Ireland could see the spin out of blockbuster and profitable drugs Lipitor and Viagra into a separate company.

The Clinical Director of the National Centre for Pharma-economics has said that VHI's decision to make some cancer drugs available to some private customers raises an issue of equity.

"One person a day in Ireland dies from a drug overdose."

A six-strong “expert” crew from Portugal was flown in by an international drug gang to set up and operate an industrial-scale cannabis growhouse in the middle of Dublin city.

Gardaí have seized around €320,000 worth of drugs from raids in three areas of Limerick.

Two people have been arrested following the discovery of €102,000 worth of cannabis and two grow houses in West Cork.

There has been a drugs seizure in the North worth €43,500.

Revenue officers seized around 1.5kgs of herbal cannabis in the Portlaoise Mail Centre yesterday.

The HSE wants to educate drug-users and their families about a treatment called Naloxone, that can reverse the effects of overdose.

A man in his 30s, arrested in Wexford yesterday as part of an investigation into the sale and supply of illegal drugs, has been released without charge.

A busted “backyard” drug factory linked to the Kinahan crime cartel was capable of producing up to 7,000 ecstasy pills every hour, gardaí believe.

Indonesian customs officials have arrested two foreigners accused of attempting to smuggle drugs on to the tourist island of Bali.

Being fully informed and thus having the opportunity to give informed consent is a fundamental issue and a basic right when considering taking any kind of prescribed drug.

Patients with genetic emphysema should have access restored, by the end of next week, to a drug withheld for more than a month in a row over who should pay to administer it.

The HSE is accusing the manufacturers of an emphysema drug of “persistent manipulation of patients in pursuit of corporate interests” because of its decision to stop administering patient infusions.

A Cork soldier who was given the anti-malarial drug, Lariam, for an overseas tour of duty in Chad, has sued the State in the High Court.

An Irish mother whose sons have been affected by exposure to an epilepsy drug has told European medical experts they must ensure that all women taking the drug are aware of the risks.

A man has been convicted of being in possession of a rare drug which he told the court was “mostly used for spiritual or religious practice” in the Amazon jungle.

The decision not to reimburse people for a drug shown to slow the progress of genetic emphysema has been formally communicated by the HSE to the foundation representing patients affected.

Drug shares took the strain in the US as President Donald Trump tweet a promise of lower priced medicines for Americans, as European shares were little changed ahead of the ECB’s meeting tomorrow.

Ten years ago, John Hannon could hardly walk from his home to his car. Yesterday he travelled to Dublin to demand that a drug that transformed his life continues to be available.

The HSE’s drugs group has recommended that the State not reimburse the cost of the only known drug to treat the underlying cause of emphysema. The decision means 21 patients in receipt of Respreeza face no longer having access from the end of this month.

Gardaí say they have no evidence to suggest that a potentially lethal synthetic drug which has been linked to the death of a teenager in Cork two weeks ago is still in circulation.

Gardaí are preparing a file for the DPP after a teenage boy, arrested in connection with the suspected drug-death of another teen in Cork, was released without charge, writes Eoin English.

The Director General of the Health Service Executive says it is too early to say if new talks will see Orkambi provided for cystic fibrosis patients.

A new immunotherapy drug similar to the one highlighted by writer AA Gill before his death can significantly extend the lives of lung cancer patients, trial results have shown.

Update 9.07pm: Cystic Fibrosis Ireland has described the leak to a Sunday newspaper that the HSE is unlikely to fund the CF drug, Orkambi, as "heartless".

The controversial anti- malarial drug Lariam has been withdrawn from sale in the Irish market.

The HSE has issued a warning to drug users following five drug-related deaths in Cork and Dublin in recent weeks.

A Dublin TD is telling middle class drug-users to accept some responsibility for the city's gangland problems.

The Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald says the effects of a new strain of cannabis are still unknown.

A new study by drug taskforces around the country, reveals three quarters of people who have experienced intimidation from gangs or drug dealers do not report it to Gardaí.

A man's being quizzed by Gardaí following the discovery of over three quarters of a million euro worth of drugs in West Dublin yesterday.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first prescription drug designed to boost sexual desire in women, a milestone long sought by a pharmaceutical industry eager to replicate the blockbuster success of impotence drugs for men.

The war on drugs was lost long ago.

An initiative is being set up in Cork and Kerry to combat what is by far the biggest drug abused – alcohol.

The Department of Defence is continuing to prescribe a controversial malaria drug to personnel serving overseas, despite its manufacturers adding yet another health warning to its use.

Three people have been arrested after drugs seizures in Dublin.

One man ran naked through a Florida neighbourhood, tried to have sex with a tree, and told police he was the mythical god Thor.

Mexican marines and police have arrested a man authorities describe as a leading cocaine trafficker for Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel.