PCSK9s appear to be meeting less payer resistance

A new report finds the nation's largest health plans ultimately denied 26% of claims for the cholesterol-lowering drugs in 2017 — a lower rate than before.

By Jacob Bell • April 12, 2018

Lawmaker questions HHS drug pricing appointee for industry ties

In an April 9 letter, Rep. Keith Ellison asked HHS Secretary Alex Azar to explain the rationale behind appointing a CVS and Pfizer veteran to senior advisor on drug pricing reform.

By Jacob Bell • April 11, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Commercialization

New drugs for obesity are becoming blockbusters, while Trump administration pressure is reshaping pharma marketing strategies ahead of looming patent cliffs.

By BioPharma Dive staff

Payments influence oncologist prescribing, JAMA study claims

An analysis of payments to more than 2,500 doctors suggests non-research related money paid by drugmakers can shape prescribing patterns.

By Randi Hernandez • April 11, 2018

CVS hands pharmacists tool to compare drug prices

Aiming to tamp down on out-of-pocket costs, CVS will roll out a new program designed to help retail pharmacists find the cheapest drug option for patients.

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 11, 2018

Clovis closes in on rival PARP drugs with latest approval

Rubraca is behind AstraZeneca's Lynparza and Tesaro's Zejula in terms of sales, but a new label expansion could strengthen the drug's competitive standing.

By Jacob Bell • April 6, 2018

Medicare to pay hundreds of thousands for CAR-T therapies

CMS will give hospitals outpatient reimbursements of about $400,000 for Gilead's Yescarta and $500,000 for Novartis' Kymriah.

By Jacob Bell • April 6, 2018

Lawmakers demand details on 1,400% price hike for cancer drug

While NextSource's lomustine is no longer under patent protection, the company is currently the only manufacturer of the drug.

By Randi Hernandez • April 4, 2018

NICE's first impression of Dupixent: It's not cost-effective

Sanofi and Regeneron's potential blockbuster doesn't meet the requirements to be "an acceptable use of NHS resources," the U.K. body found.

By Jacob Bell • April 4, 2018

Amgen's money-back offer on Repatha isn't all that meaningful, researchers find

A new study suggests Amgen's outcomes-based payment scheme would only marginally improve the cost-effectiveness of the PCSK9 drug.

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 4, 2018

Pharma turns to new pain options amid opioid crisis

In its latest spotlight, BioPharma Dive explores the drug industry's efforts to develop novel approaches to treat pain and deter abuse.

By Lisa LaMotta • April 4, 2018

PhRMA argues early notice of price hikes won't benefit patients

Letting insurers, distributors and PBMs know when a drug's price is about to increase, as some state laws aim to do, could encourage drug stockpiling and shortages, the trade group said.

By Jacob Bell • April 2, 2018

Walmart reportedly in early talks to acquire Humana

The companies already partner on Medicare Part D drug plans. But a deal could boost Humana's group market offerings to compete with other insurers, suggests one analyst.

By David Lim • April 2, 2018

Teva's 'skinny label' generic didn't cause infringement of GSK's patent, judge finds

The decision means Teva doesn't have to fork over $235 million in lost profits and royalties to its pharma rival, as a jury previously ruled.

By Jacob Bell • March 29, 2018

Teva launches generic version of Shire's top-selling internal medicine

Lialda sales are already waning due to competition from other copycats, and will likely fall further as this latest rollout takes its toll.

By Jacob Bell • March 28, 2018

PhRMA goes after drug 'middlemen' in new ad attack

The trade group accused insurers and PBMs of preventing patients from reaching their deductibles by changing how copay coupons are processed. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • March 28, 2018

Sanofi aims to lower copay costs with higher-capacity Toujeo pen

The French drugmaker said the new delivery device for the long-acting insulin could potentially help reduce refills and patient copays.

By Randi Hernandez • March 28, 2018

Aetna to offer point of sale pharmacy rebates to 3M customers

The insurer has opposed an idea from CMS to mandate Part D sponsors pass on a percentage of rebates to customers at the point of sale.

By David Lim • March 27, 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.

By Lisa LaMotta • 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.

By Jacob Bell • March 26, 2018

EMA clears biosimilars for Herceptin, Remicade

Friday's recommendations also included approval of GSK's Juluca, moving the once-daily, single-tablet maintenance therapy for HIV nearer to the market.

By Suzanne Elvidge • March 26, 2018

What's more prescribed than opioids? Weirdly, a thyroid drug

A new GoodRx report finds the most popular drug in 26 states is levothyroxine, which breached 100 million prescriptions annually from 2012 to 2016. 

By Jacob Bell • March 23, 2018

Amgen taps Omnicom's Hearts & Science for media job

The California biotech has placed its media spend in the hands of an Omnicom agency after 14 years with another group. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • March 23, 2018

Roche's Hemlibra to be biggest blockbuster of next 5 years, report says

A dozen drugs approved in 2017 should reach blockbuster status over the five-year period, with many exceeding $2 billion in annual sales, according to a report from Clarivate Analytics.

By Lisa LaMotta • March 22, 2018

Sun Pharma breaks into biologics with Ilumya

Though it's an important milestone, some analysts noted the generics giant and its new psoriasis drug will face an uphill battle in the fight for market share.

By Jacob Bell • March 22, 2018

FDA to study how drug promotion affects doctors' decisions

Drugmakers spend billions of dollars trying to get their products in front of prescribers, and the FDA wants to know how influential that practice has become.

By Jacob Bell • March 21, 2018