Pharmaceutical Industry discussion, review, analysis, news and information.

Fortune recently released their list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and on it is found a good number of women in pharmaceuticals.

On the list at #4 is Angela Braly, President and CEO of Wellpoint Inc (NYSE:WLP). Wellpoint is one of the largest U.S. Health-care companies.

In at #14 is Christine Poon, Vice Chairman of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). Poon joined J&J in 2000 and leads the pharma division. She oversees procurement, information management and operations. She comes in 23rd on the highest paid list having earned $7.8 million in 2006.

#21 is Susan Desmond-Hellmann, President of Product Development at Genentech Inc. (NYSE:DNA). She took her company to new heights by making Genentech one of the top companies in the cancer drug market. In 2006 she was named Woman of the Year by the Healthcare Businesswoman's Association. At #24 on the list of highest paid she earned $7.8 million in 2006.

Coming in at #32 is Carrie Cox of Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE:SGP), President of Global Pharmaceuticals. Her accomplishments include an increase of her division's revenues of 13% and a joint venture with Merck to market cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia.

At #39 we find Colleen Goggins Worldwide Chairman, Consumer Group, of Johnson & Johnson. A 26-year veteran of J&J, Goggins added over-the-counter sales to her responsibilities in January.

Last but not least, in at #47 is Deidre Connelly President of Eli Lilly USA (NYSE:LLY). Connelly is considered to be one of the most likely contenders to be Big Pharma's first woman CEO. Lilly USA accounts for more than half its parent company's sales with Zyprexa, an antipsychotic and Cymbalta, an antidepressant being the biggest growth drivers.

So pharma takes 6 of the top 50 places on The Most Powerful list and I'm sure we can expect to see impressive accomplishments from all of them as they continue to bring their companies forward in the pharmaceutical market.