news

Apr 04, 2017

Biogen triumphs in latest Tecfidera patent dispute Biogen has prevailed in a patent squabble with Denmark’s Forward Pharma over multiple sclerosis med Tecfidera—but the decision may not actually help the Big Biotech steer clear of generic rivals. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) ruled Friday that Forward cou...

Mar 21, 2017

Novartis heart-failure med Entresto cuts A1c, insulin starts in diabetics Novartis has been mining a pivotal study of Entresto, its heart-failure med, for more insights ever since it was first published in 2014. Now, a new analysis shows that Entresto beat an older med at reducing blood sugar levels in heart failure...

Mar 14, 2017

Pfizer faces first 2017 patent loss as Pristiq generics arrive Pfizer faces a challenging year on the patent loss front, starting with the generics of its antidepressant Pristiq now hitting the market. Mylan today said it had launched its copycat of desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets, in 50 mg and 100 mg doses....

Mar 02, 2017

Clinigen and Eisai partner to offer Halaven for metastatic breast cancer in South Africa Eisai has partnered with Clinigen Group to distribute Halaven (eribulin) in South Africa for the treatment of women with metastatic breast cancer. Discovered and developed by Eisai, Eribulin is a synthetic variant of microtubule...

Jan 24, 2017

U.K. weighs drug rationing as NHS England's budget tightens: report Patients in the U.K. face yet another barrier to access as a tough budget situation has forced the country’s healthcare system to consider rationing costly drugs. Among them are medicines from Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Roche. Beginning in Apr...

Jan 17, 2017

US FDA accepts Mylan’s BLA for proposed trastuzumab product Biocon and Mylan have announced acceptance of the latter’s biologics licence application (BLA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MYL-1401O, a proposed biosimilar trastuzumab. Mylan’s MYL-1401O is indicated to treat certain HER2-positive breas...

Jan 05, 2017

Greek prosecutors raid Novartis offices, disclose wide-ranging probe into bribery allegations Greek officials announced that they are investigating Novartis for bribery in the wake of local media reports raising questions about the company. It is the fourth set of bribery allegations against the Swiss drugmaker to g...

Jan 03, 2017

Sanofi sues Novo over 'misleading' Tresiba marketing materials Sanofi has sued Novo over the Danish drugmaker’s marketing materials for Tresiba, alleging that they falsely claimed Sanofi’s competing products—blockbuster Lantus and follow-up Toujeo—won’t be available to many U.S. patients down the line. The pharma gi...

Dec 15, 2016

CDC study reveals Zika virus replicates in foetal brain and placentas Study conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that the Zika virus replicates in the brain tissues of infants with microcephaly and persists in foetal brains and placentas of women who suffered pregnancy lo...

Nov 23, 2016

Novartis Buys Blood Disease Drug Maker for $665mn Novartis has acquired Selexys Pharmaceuticals, a drug maker specializing in development of therapeutics in certain hematologic and inflammatory disorders. Novartis exercised its right to acquire Selexys following receipt of results of the SUSTAIN study, a Phase II tr...