Immuno-onocology, drug pricing, gene therapy, biosimilars and biomarkers were just a few of the buzzwords on the minds of BioPharma Dive readers in 2017.
Unlike prior years, M&A played only a small role in the pharma ecosystem last year. Just two major acquisitions took place — Johnson & Johnson's buyout of European biotech Actelion Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Gilead Sciences Inc.'s pick-up of Kite Pharma — as uncertainty around tax reform keeping most big pharmas on the sidelines.
Yet, the prospect of big deals (like the rumor that Pfizer Inc. might buy out competitor Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.) kept readers coming back for more.
Here's a look at the stories that made 2017 a dynamic year for pharma:
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7 Takeover targets to look out for in 2017
With the tax overhaul in the rearview mirror, BioPharma Dive's projections about the biotechs likely to get picked up by big pharma acquirers are more likely to come to fruition. Take a look at our original list. Read More >>
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How biomarkers cost Bristol-Myers the lung cancer market
While Merck & Co.'s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) was the first checkpoint inhibitor to market, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s Opdivo (nivolumab) has been the market leader by revenues. Yet, Bristol-Myers needed to capture some position in the lung cancer market to maintain its lead. A misstep in designing its clinical trials to focus on the broader patient population instead of high-expressing PD-L1 patients has cleared the way for Keytruda to make gains in market share. Read More >>
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Express Scripts shuts out 64 branded drugs from 2018 formulary
Pharmacy benefit managers like Express Scripts are creating quite the stir, with everyone from drug companies to government officials questioning their usefulness. But the power of the pharma-insurance middleman is clearest when it issued its latest formulary exclusions list — showcasing its influence over market competition. Read More >>
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In historic first, FDA approves Novartis CAR-T therapy
The first drug to be classified as a gene therapy won a green light from the Food and Drug Administration in August. Novartis AG secured approval for its CAR-T therapy Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) for a small subset of patients with an aggressive form of leukemia, setting up a market showdown between Novartis and Gilead. Read More >>
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MassBio: Massachusetts edges out California as #1 biotech hub
Everyone loves a rivalry, and there's no bigger race the world of biopharma than that between Boston and California. A recent survey from Massachusetts Biotechnology Council showed the Boston/Cambridge area has overtaken California in the number of people employed in biotech R&D. The increased talent pool has attracted further life sciences companies to the location. Read More >>
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Pharma of the Year: AbbVie
BioPharma Dive chose AbbVie as its Pharma of the Year. Not only did AbbVie's stock grow more 50% in 2017 but the company has owned the best-selling drug in the world for several years running. Humira (adalimumab) continues to be a sales juggernaut and the rheumatoid arthritis drug is expected to continue to dominate through 2020 when it is expected to reach $21 billion in annual revenues. Beyond that, AbbVie has been quietly building out its pipeline in other areas. Read More >>
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Executive of the Year: Kenneth Frazier
It takes more than a good business acumen to earn BioPharma Dive's Executive of the Year award. Merck's CEO Kenneth Frazier was a stand-out in 2017 for setting a strong moral example as well. Read More >>
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7 companies to know in the emerging biosimilars field
While biologic drugs were the hot new thing two to three decades ago, copycats of these large molecule drugs are the next big innovation. Biosimilars started hitting Europe several years ago, but these drugs are just starting to make waves in the U.S. Several companies have gotten a head start on making and manufacturing biosimilars. Now these companies have to find a way to unseat the branded incumbents. Read More >>
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CVS Health removes 17 drugs from formulary, adds outcomes-based program
Just like its counterpart Express Scripts, CVS Health has the power to move markets with its formulary exclusion decisions. The major pharmacy benefit manager removed 17 drugs from its preferred list for 2018 and next year plans to focus on outcomes-based deals. Read More >>
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Pfizer hints a Bristol deal is on the table
Pfizer has been hinting for years that it's looking for a major deal, despite bids for AstraZeneca plc and Allergan plc falling through. With that in mind, speculation around whether the big pharma might buy competitor Bristol-Myers Squibb has been swirling. Pfizer had said it is waiting for tax reform to happen before it pulls the trigger — but an acquisition of Bristol-Myers isn't out of the question. Now that the tax bill is signed, eyes will be on drugmaker once again. Read More >>