Merck increased list prices on Keytruda, Gardasil in November

The pharmaceutical giant made a pricing pledge this summer. A company spokesperson contended these price hikes are "fully consistent" with the plan.

By Andrew Dunn • Nov. 29, 2018

CVS, Aetna finalize megamerger

The acquisition, worth $69 billion excluding debt, creates the second biggest private company by revenue after Walmart.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 28, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Commercialization

New drugs for obesity and Alzheimer’s look set to become blockbusters, reshaping pharma marketing strategies just as many current top-sellers near looming patent cliffs.

By BioPharma Dive staff

Drugmakers vie to capture slice of rheumatoid arthritis market

TNF inhibitors like Humira have long held top positions. But not all patients respond and some still aren't treated with biologics — fueling further investment in the space.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 26, 2018

5 rheumatologists discuss the evolving landscape of RA treatment

Drug pricing, JAK inhibitors and more personalized therapies are top of mind for many rheumatoid arthritis doctors.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 26, 2018

Drug costs pushed one-third of Americans to skip a prescription in the past year: GoodRx

Nearly all respondents to a recent survey said they had health insurance, yet 42% noted they were still having difficulty paying for medications.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 26, 2018

Court opens path for Dr. Reddy's to launch generic Suboxone

A U.S. federal appeals court threw out a preliminary injunction that had blocked the generics maker from launching a copy of Indivior's opioid treatment.

By Andrew Dunn • Nov. 21, 2018

Novartis confident in Gilenya despite FDA call out

Regulators identified 35 cases where patients experienced severely increased disability after going off Gilenya, spurring a label update about potential risks.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 21, 2018

Sandoz, Pear begin selling digital substance use treatment

The FDA called it the first mobile medical app to treat substance use disorders.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 21, 2018

Sobi's late-breaking ASH data also spurs an approval

Emapalumab, to be branded as Gamifant, is now OK'd in the U.S. for patients with a rare inflammatory disease known as primary HLH.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 20, 2018

Kaleo under fire for price hikes on naloxone treatment

Kaleo raised its price for Evzio from $575 to $4,100 in fewer than three years. Now, the company's tactics are the focus of a new Senate report and a "60 Minutes" segment.

By Andrew Dunn • Nov. 19, 2018

Pfizer tests Trump with plans to hike prices on 41 drugs

Last month, Pfizer CEO Ian Read indicated the pharma would soon return to "business as normal" after a rare reversal on price hikes made in July. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 16, 2018

7 drugs that raised eyebrows in Q3

Biosimilars began to bite into blockbuster franchises, while newer products propped up sales at Sanofi, Regeneron and GSK​.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 15, 2018

California, Massachusetts go toe-to-toe for title of best biotech hub

For yet another year, the two states put out reports showcasing statistics that back why they ought to be called biopharma's No. 1 hub.

By Andrew Dunn • Nov. 14, 2018

CMS approves Michigan Medicaid drug value-based payment plan

Administrator Seema Verma also previewed forthcoming agency action on protected classes of drugs in Medicare Part D, hinting that CMS plans to further open the space to private negotiation.

By David Lim • Nov. 14, 2018

Pfizer launches biosimilar version of Amgen's Epogen

Retacrit's wholesale acquisition cost clocks in 57% lower than that of J&J's Procrit and 34% lower that of Amgen's Epogen.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 14, 2018

Express Scripts plans 'Flex' formulary focused on authorized generics

Gilead’s generic versions of its own hepatitis C treatments Epclusa and Harvoni are first on the list for the new formulary​, which starts Jan. 1.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 14, 2018

Specialty drugs drive Rx spending increase, Blue Cross says

Insurers under the Blues' umbrella, which accounts for dozens of independently run payers, spent about $100 billion on prescription drugs in 2017.

By Andrew Dunn • Nov. 13, 2018

How do you energize your sales force?

Don't just assume your sales person will be motivated by more money. Extra compensation may not be the best answer and energy can play a big role.

By Steve Marley • Nov. 13, 2018

UK calls Vertex on contentious Orkambi negotiations

A key committee has asked for more information from Vertex on its case for the cystic fibrosis drug, including the price offered to NHS.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Nov. 12, 2018

AstraZeneca calls victory in CV study, but will payers feel the same?

A large cardiovascular study found the British pharma's Farxiga offers heart health benefits, yet the diabetes drug still faces stiff competition.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 12, 2018

Mylan, Theravance win FDA approval for COPD drug

The companies now face the daunting task of launching Yupelri into a market dominated by several heavyweight brands.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Nov. 12, 2018

UK's NICE gives early no to expanded use of AstraZeneca's Lynparza

In a draft decision, a committee for the U.K.'s cost watchdog recommended not providing coverage for expanded use of the PARP inhibitor in ovarian cancer.

By Andrew Dunn • Nov. 9, 2018

PARP makers search for a way to break through

Though Lynparza, Zejula and Rubraca saw growth in the third quarter, they've each had trouble breaking further into the ovarian cancer maintenance market.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 8, 2018

Earnings reveal pharma's mixed feelings on Trump drug pricing proposal

A plan that would shake up how CMS pays for Medicare Part B drugs could leave the bottom lines of major players like Roche, Amgen and Bristol-Myers exposed, according to analysts.​

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 7, 2018

Novartis gives up on biosimilar Rituxan in US

An additional ask from the FDA, which had rejected Novartis' copycat version earlier this year, seems to have changed the big pharma's thinking. 

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 5, 2018