Express Scripts: Specialty meds driving up US drug spend

A new report from the PBM found the number of health plan members whose annual pharmacy bill cost more than $50,000 had spiked by 35% since 2014. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Oct. 2, 2017

Ablynx prepares path for lead drug after positive late-stage results

Caplacizumab met primary and key secondary goals of the HERCULES study, which evaluated the drug in patients with a rare blood disorder.

By Jacob Bell • Oct. 2, 2017

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

Lilly's abema gets FDA OK, setting it up for blockbuster status

Verzenio comes as the third CDK 4/6 inhibitor to market, facing competition from Pfizer's Ibrance and Novartis' Kisqali, but it could be best in class.

By Jacob Bell • Sept. 29, 2017

AbbVie, Amgen reach a deal on Humira biosimilar

Now, a copycat of the mega-blockbuster anti-inflammatory drug likely won't reach the U.S. market until 2023.

By Jacob Bell • Sept. 28, 2017

Coverage barriers and high co-pays block access to PCSK9 drugs

Only a third of patients prescribed Repatha or Praluent in the drugs' first year of availability actually ended up receiving therapy, according to a new study. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • Sept. 28, 2017

FDA targets illegal online pharmacies as part of global crackdown

In a recent enforcement effort, the U.S. regulator sent 13 warning letters to the operators of 401 websites peddling illegal or counterfeit medicines. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • Sept. 27, 2017

AbbVie to keep limits on price hikes next year, denying backtrack

Pressure ratcheted up on AbbVie after reports suggested the drugmaker was considering returning to double-digit price increases in 2018.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 27, 2017

J&J, Roche among companies selected for FDA digital health pilot

The regulator hopes to improve how it reviews digital medical devices, aiming to streamline the path to market for new health tools.

By Jeff Byers • Sept. 26, 2017

What you need to know: The evolving pharma sales force

BioPharma Dive's latest Spotlight examines how the pressures of shifting markets, patent expirations and industry restructurings have impacted sales forces. 

By Lisa LaMotta • Sept. 26, 2017

Premium price for Novartis' CAR-T sparks pushback from top PBM

The healthcare system is not equipped to pay for personalized, one-time treatments like Novartis' newly approved Kyrmiah, says Express Scripts.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 25, 2017

Judge denies PhRMA, BIO jab at Nevada law

The trade groups didn't convince Judge James Mahan that a temporary restraining order was warranted for the state's diabetes drug pricing transparency bill.

By Jacob Bell • Sept. 20, 2017

House members urge Trump to lower cost of opioid overdose antidote

Prices of new naloxone formulations, such as Kaleo's Evzio, have risen in recent years, drawing scrutiny from lawmakers.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Sept. 20, 2017

Bayer ends sales of Essure implant outside of US

The drugmaker said the decision was unrelated to the safety or efficacy of the contraceptive, which has been the subject of numerous consumer complaints. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 19, 2017

Split adcomm vote leaves Pfizer's Sutent in limbo

An FDA advisory panel voted six in favor, six against a new indication for the drugmaker's cancer med.

By Jacob Bell • Sept. 19, 2017

Digital pharma sales technologies soar

Digital contact with physicians has changed the role of the sales rep and made it easier to track patient data. 

By Malorye Allison Branca • Sept. 18, 2017

5 Trends shaping the pharma sales force

Many factors have played a role in shrinking the pharma sales force. But sales reps aren't going away — their role is just changing.

By Lisa LaMotta • Sept. 18, 2017

Smaller sales forces get the job done in rare disease

The shift from primary care to specialty medicines has meant rightsizing sales forces to match markets.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 18, 2017

How to optimize pharma sales forces in a changing marketplace

Less time with doctors, an increase in rare disease drugs and higher use of digital tools means it's important to find the right talent and use reps efficiently.

By Jacob Bell • Sept. 18, 2017

Infographic: Pharma sales force by the numbers

As sales forces have shrunk across the industry, pharma is looking to new ways to reach physicians. 

By Jordan Branch , Lisa LaMotta • Sept. 18, 2017

Bayer's PI3K inhibitor secures FDA approval

The regulatory OK was supported by a mid-stage study which showed efficacy in heavily pretreated patients with follicular lymphoma.

By Jacob Bell • Sept. 15, 2017

Amgen, Allergan win first approval of cancer biosimilar in US

The drug, which will be marketed as Mvasi, is a biosimilar version of Roche's top-selling biologic Avastin.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 14, 2017

New estimate puts cost to develop a cancer drug at $648M

An analysis published in JAMA found that developing cancer drugs may cost significantly less than previously thought. 

By Lisa LaMotta • Sept. 13, 2017

Taking the long view on pharma's reputation management

To start chipping away at pharma’s reputation problem, companies should consider tapping their internal brand champions — and equipping them for success. 

By Pratap Khedkar • Sept. 13, 2017

ICER analysis latest salvo in debate over Repatha price

Amgen's cholesterol drug would need to cost between 85% and 88% less than its current list price to meet the research group's value-based benchmark.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 12, 2017

FDA warns drugmaker over misleading marketing of opioid

The regulator's letter to Cipher Pharmaceuticals is only the second warning issued by the Office of Prescription Drug Promotion this year.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 6, 2017