Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
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Pharma turn to NASH unlikely to mirror meteoric rise of hep C
Hopes of a hepatitis C-sized market could be dashed by the complexity of and challenges in diagnosing the lesser-known liver disease.
Ned Pagliarulo • May 21, 2018 -
After a flurry, NASH deals put on pause
After several years of dealmaking in the liver disease space, the industry waits for the next wave of assets to mature.
Lisa LaMotta • May 21, 2018 -
NASH drug pipeline headed toward uncertain market
The fatty liver disease has dozens of treatments in the global pipeline. But investors are treading lightly, casting doubt on the market opportunity.
Jacob Bell • May 21, 2018 -
3 market-busting hurdles to NASH commercialization
With the first NASH drugs expected to win approval over the next two to three years, drugmakers will face several major barriers to market entry.
Lisa LaMotta • May 21, 2018 -
Oncology boom spurs DTC advertising, and with it controversy
As the debate for and against direct-to-consumer advertising rages on, cancer drugmakers look poised to pump massive amounts of money into the practice.
Jacob Bell • May 16, 2018 -
Pharma breathes easy as Trump's drug pricing plan fizzles
While Trump vowed to bring drug prices down, pharma and biotech stocks jumped higher after his speech delivered few immediate actions.
David Lim • May 11, 2018 -
What to expect from Trump's Friday drug pricing speech
The president is expected to lay out his administration's latest slate of proposals aimed at lowering the cost of drugs.
David Lim • May 10, 2018 -
The pharma supply chain: What you need to know
Drug development is no easy feat. But even when manufacturing is perfected, getting treatments from plants to patients remains a hurdle.
Jacob Bell • April 24, 2018 -
Lilly's JAK woes set the stage for AbbVie, Gilead to jump ahead
An adcomm's iffy stance on baricitinib could mean one less thing to worry about for rivals looking to break into the fairly open JAK inhibitor market.
Jacob Bell • April 24, 2018 -
Pharma supply chains could use a tech reboot
While more prosaic than drug R&D, supply chains are increasingly important as the industry moves toward personalized medicine.
Kate Patrick • April 23, 2018 -
The Drug Supply Chain Security Act: A progress report
Five years in and one enforcement extension later, pharmaceutical companies still have a long way to go to fulfill the goal of true traceability.
Edwin Lopez • April 23, 2018 -
As India, China drug industries mature, FDA scrutiny an overhang
Rising numbers of warning letters have put production quality in focus, just as both countries turn further toward novel drug R&D.
Ned Pagliarulo • April 23, 2018 -
CAR-T ups challenges in pharma supply chain
New technology made it viable to ship the cell therapies. Now, stakeholders are pushing for more innovation to meet looming commercial demands.
Jacob Bell • April 23, 2018 -
Two years after cancer setback, Bristol-Myers' new biomarker bet pays off
The success of CheckMate-227 is a step toward validating tumor mutational burden, but questions remain about how easily the test could be adopted.
Ned Pagliarulo • April 16, 2018 -
I/O combos inch forward in pharma's lung cancer quest
An impressive survival benefit could lift Merck's Keytruda plus chemo regimen, while Bristol-Myers hopes its checkpoint inhibitor pairing can help it catch up.
Ned Pagliarulo • April 16, 2018 -
Gene therapy heavyweights talk next steps for CAR-T
Several big names in cell and gene therapy development discussed what's on the horizon at a meeting of the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy.
Lisa LaMotta • April 11, 2018 -
In push to use pot for pain, synthetics hold upper hand
The first plant-derived cannabinoid drug faces an FDA advisory panel meeting in April. If approved, it could swing the door to the cannabis market wide open.
Randi Hernandez • March 26, 2018 -
Abuse deterrents still finding their niche in the pain space
Hard-to-abuse opioids haven't been on the market for very long, and whether they have staying power amid a public health crisis remains an open question.
Jacob Bell • March 26, 2018 -
Lilly's bet on pain stands out amid bare pharma pipeline
Even as the opioid epidemic has heightened the need for non-addictive painkillers, few pharma companies have made pain a therapeutic area of focus.
Ned Pagliarulo • March 26, 2018 -
Opioid antagonists vs. agonists: A battle to fight addiction
With no end in sight to the opioid crisis, treatments to help people suffering from addiction are taking center stage but still face stigma.
Lisa LaMotta • March 26, 2018 -
Payers use data to flag those at greatest risk of opioid abuse
The idea is to pinpoint patients most likely to become addicted and help prevent opioid abuse before it starts.
Les Masterson • March 26, 2018 -
Prescribed Reading: AbbVie disappoints; Regeneron deals in genes
Investors questioned AbbVie's strategy in oncology after a clinical miss. Elsewhere, Regeneron partnered with Alnylam to probe the potential of a genetic discovery.
Lisa LaMotta • March 23, 2018 -
Prescribed Reading: Neuro's comeback tour
Activity in the neuroscience space spiked higher, with a flurry of licensing deals highlighting BioPharma Dive's prediction the field is ready for a resurgence.
Lisa LaMotta • March 16, 2018 -
Incyte study could bring lessons for cancer immunotherapy
Merck has bet on the potential of Incyte's IDO blocker as a partner for Keytruda across five different cancer types. A Phase 3 trial in melanoma is first up.
Ned Pagliarulo • March 14, 2018 -
Right to Try fails amid warning from regulators, patient groups
Backers of the bill like President Trump and the Koch brothers faced off against major patient groups and some regulators.
David Lim • March 14, 2018