Marketing

UK approves Moderna’s two-pronged COVID-19 booster

Britain’s drug regulator is the first public health authority to clear a vaccine designed to fight omicron as well as the original strain of the virus. 

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 15, 2022

Pfizer’s new pneumococcal vaccine meets study goal in children

Pfizer, which competes with Merck in this market, plans to ask the FDA for an expanded approval of its 20-valent shot later this year.

By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 12, 2022

GSK, Pfizer, Sanofi shares drop amid Zantac litigation concerns

The companies could face liability related to their sales of the heartburn drug, which was withdrawn from market in the U.S. and other countries after impurities related to a likely carcinogen were detected.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated Aug. 11, 2022

Coherus wins FDA approval for second Lucentis biosimilar, its third drug

The biotech company secured a valuable interchangeable designation for the copycat medicine, which it plans to launch later this year.

By Kristin Jensen • Aug. 3, 2022

With new data, Roche takes step toward more convenient cancer immunotherapy

The pharma claimed Phase 3 study success for a subcutaneous version of its drug Tecentriq, a strategy it and rivals Merck and Bristol Myers could use to extend the market life of their lucrative drugs.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 2, 2022

AbbVie cancer drug sales fall as AstraZeneca competitor gains ground

Imbruvica, long one of AbbVie’s top-selling medicines, has ceded market share in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia to AstraZeneca’s Calquence.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 29, 2022

Pfizer sales of COVID-19 vaccine, pill beat forecasts as company prepares for future waves

The company plans to ready a booster shot by the fall that targets the BA.4 and BA.5 strains that are currently most prevalent in the U.S. and other countries.

By Christopher Newman • Updated July 28, 2022

Teva reaches deal in principle to settle opioid lawsuits for over $4B

The generics maker joins other pharmaceutical companies attempting to resolve litigation over their alleged contributions to the opioid epidemic.

By Kristin Jensen • July 27, 2022

Amazon will see you now: reading between the lines of the One Medical acquisition

The deal’s near-term effects might not be large, but Amazon’s acquisition still threaten’s One Medical’s primary care competitors and others seeking a greater slice of the market, experts said.

By Rebecca Pifer • July 25, 2022

EU speeds approval of monkeypox vaccine as WHO declares public health emergency

Vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic said it is meeting demand for its shot with production capacity of 30 million doses a year.

By Christopher Newman • July 25, 2022

Amazon to buy One Medical for $3.9B

The all-cash deal for the San Francisco-based company follows months of speculation about a potential acquisition, but Amazon as the buyer comes as a surprise.

By Rebecca Pifer • July 21, 2022

CDC backs Novavax's protein-based vaccine for COVID-19

Health officials argue a new type of shot could help to persuade unvaccinated people, although some surveys suggest that might not be the case. 

By Delilah Alvarado • July 20, 2022

Ultragenyx sells rare disease drug royalties to Canadian pension fund

In exchange for $500 million, the fund, called OMERS, will get a 30% royalty on future sales of Ultragenyx’s drug Crysvita in the U.S. and Canada, where it’s approved to treat two rare conditions.

By Jacob Bell • July 15, 2022

Royalty Pharma buys rights to top-selling GSK drug in pair of deals

The prolific biopharma dealmaker is paying Theravance $1.1 billion and Innoviva $282 million to acquire rights to royalties on GSK’s asthma and COPD drug Trelegy Ellipta.

By Kristin Jensen • July 14, 2022

BioMarin's hemophilia gene therapy recommended for approval in Europe

The decision brings what could be the first approved hemophilia gene therapy, Roctavian, closer to market, after a series of regulatory setbacks that have delayed its arrival. 

By Jacob Bell • June 24, 2022

Amylyx's ALS drug gets approved in Canada

The Massachusetts-based biotech is awaiting a decision in the U.S., where the FDA recently extended its review after agency advisers narrowly voted against the treatment.

By Jacob Bell • June 13, 2022

Real-world data: A health equity lens for research

Arising from the circumstances in which people grow, live, work and age, and the systems put in place to deal with illness, these health inequities are avoidable. 

By Jessica Paulus, ScD, Senior Director, Epidemiology, OM1 • June 13, 2022

FTC to investigate CVS Caremark, others in probe of PBM business practices

The decision to launch an inquiry reversed a vote earlier this year, when FTC commissioners had deadlocked over whether to look into the drug pricing middlemen.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 7, 2022

Amarin turns to job cuts as generics challenge its heart pill

Facing greater competition and declining sales in the U.S., the drugmaker is laying off about 40% of its workforce as part of an effort to save $100 million over the next year.

By Jacob Bell • June 6, 2022

Regeneron buys control of cancer drug Libtayo from Sanofi

The biotech, which has been partnered with Sanofi for years, will pay $900 million upfront to gain sole control of the cancer immunotherapy.

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated June 2, 2022

Moderna vaccine sales surpass expectations as company looks to fall boosters

The trajectory of COVID-19 vaccine sales is now harder to predict amid questions about the rollout of additional doses and whether purchasing in the U.S. might shift from the federal government to private payers.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 4, 2022

Bristol Myers wins FDA approval for first drug to treat inherited heart condition

Bristol Myers paid $13 billion to acquire the drug's maker, MyoKardia, and expects it to become a blockbuster. But a tricky dosing regimen, as well as safety concerns, could challenge the pharmaceutical giant's lofty forecast. 

By Jonathan Gardner • April 28, 2022

Biogen pulls European application for Aduhelm in another setback for the Alzheimer's drug

In a letter to regulators, Biogen said it chose to withdraw its approval filing after discussions with the EMA, which previously found the data supporting Aduhelm to be lacking.

By Jacob Bell , Ned Pagliarulo • April 22, 2022

DOJ cracks down on 'largest and most wide-ranging' COVID-19 fraud

Defendants, including doctors, medical business executives and fake vaccination card manufacturers, caused nearly $150 million in false billings to federal programs, the DOJ said. 

By Rebecca Pifer • April 21, 2022

Inflation is forcing prioritization of healthcare spending — are you ready?

Inflation means your customers' money doesn't travel as far as it did a few weeks ago.

April 18, 2022