Drug adherence: What you need to know

One of the biggest problems in the medical field is patients not taking their drugs or using them improperly. When patients are non-adherent, drugs don't work. 

By Lisa LaMotta • May 15, 2017

Novartis set to ride Entresto wave, says report

At least one analyst thinks Novartis is being underestimated and expects the launch of Entresto to continue to accelerate, boosting full-year earnings. 

By Lisa LaMotta • May 15, 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

5 trends changing drug adherence for the better

Many things can affect whether a patient takes a drug as prescribed, but stakeholders are intervening in order to make patients more compliant with their meds.

By Lisa LaMotta • May 15, 2017

EU investigating generic drugmaker over cancer drug price hikes

The EC's scrutiny of Aspen Pharma is the regulator's first formal investigation of excessive pricing in the pharma industry. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 15, 2017

Can value-based deals work if patients don't take the drug?

Drugmakers and payers are experimenting with how to align a drug's price with its value. Ensuring patient adherence is the first step to making sure the innovative deals get off the ground.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 15, 2017

Medication adherence: The secret sauce for better outcomes?

Rates of non-adherence vary widely and depend on condition, price and other issues. But unfilled prescriptions and missed doses cost the healthcare system billions annually.

By Malorye Allison Branca • May 15, 2017

Second Advair copy rejected, giving GSK short-term respite

Hikma Pharmaceuticals said it had received a complete response letter from the FDA, likely meaning GSK will dodge generic competition to its bestseller this year. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 11, 2017

Merck bolsters I/O edge with Keytruda combo approval

Approval is expected to help Merck cement market share in the lucrative lung cancer market and stay a step ahead of fast-moving rivals. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 11, 2017

J&J discloses DOJ investigations into marketing, advisory practices

U.S. officials are looking into the healthcare heavyweight's sales protocols for four drugs: Remicade, Stelara, Olysio and Simponi.

By Jacob Bell • May 10, 2017

PhRMA ousts 22 drugmakers from ranks in membership change

The trade group will now require its members average at least $200 million a year in R&D spending, stricter standards aimed at defusing criticism over price hikes. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 10, 2017

Bavencio snags bladder cancer approval ahead of goal date

The FDA's accelerated approval of Merck KGaA and Pfizer's checkpoint inhibitor means more competition in second-line bladder cancer.

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 10, 2017

Sanofi joins pharma pricing pledge ranks

The French pharma is the latest company to vow to keep price increases at a minimum and be transparent about pricing practices.

By Lisa LaMotta • May 9, 2017

PTC to launch DMD drug with still-high price tag

The biotech wasn't completely transparent with investors when announcing a net price of $35,000 for the old steroid; a wholesale acquisition cost is still unknown. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 9, 2017

Teva crashes out of laquinimod MS program

The Israeli pharma's Copaxone follow-on laquinimod fails in the CONCERTO trial, forcing the company to abandon the drug in multiple sclerosis. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 8, 2017

Express Scripts, GoodRx roll out cost savings program

The companies partnered with eight drugmakers and 40,000 U.S. pharmacies to provide patients with lower cost treatments for a range of illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease and depression.

By Jacob Bell • May 8, 2017

Q1 Biotech earnings highlights: Clovis, Bluebird, Rigel, Vanda

Unlike their big pharma counterparts, small biotechs don't have much revenue to report, but earnings updates can still be valuable. 

By Lisa LaMotta • May 4, 2017

Payer, consumer pushback expected to dampen drug spending growth

A new report from QuintilesIMS explains that pricing pressures are prompting lower-than-expected growth for drug spending. 

By Jacob Bell • May 4, 2017

BIO accuses insurer report of shifting blame on drug prices

New data from Blue Cross Blue Shield found drug spending had increased an average of 10% a year, spurred by fast-growing prices for specialty branded drugs. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 4, 2017

Healthcare costs take center stage at LLS roundtable

Representatives from trade, federal and advocacy groups agreed that while greater pricing transparency is needed, the burden for lowering healthcare costs rests on a variety of stakeholders.

By Jacob Bell • May 3, 2017

Weak Xtandi sales spur questions on Pfizer's $14B Medivation takeover

Company executives, however, attributed the weak Q1 performance of the prostate cancer drug to a transient jump in use of its patient assistance programs.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 3, 2017

Insulin makers targeted in pricing inquiries

Eli Lilly disclosed it is under investigation by the attorneys general of Washington and New Mexico. Rival Novo Nordisk is under similar scrutiny. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • May 3, 2017

Amgen inks first money-back guarantee for Repatha

The outcomes-based contract with Harvard Pilgrim is part of Amgen's "aggressive engagement" with payers to help ease coverage restrictions on the PCSK9 drug. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 2, 2017

Merck sees Keytruda gains, offsetting generic hits to sales

But is Keytruda's edge in first-line lung cancer enough to hold off future rivals? Looming data readouts from Roche and AstraZeneca could signal new competition.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 2, 2017

FDA gives thumbs up to Takeda's lung cancer drug

Alunbrig will enter the market as a second-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer, competing with drugs from Roche and Novartis.

By Jacob Bell • May 1, 2017

Q1 Earnings Preview: Gilead, Merck, Pfizer, Allergan

Tuesday is expected to be another busy days for earnings reports, with Pfizer and big biotechs like Gilead announcing financial performance for the first quarter. 

By Ned Pagliarulo , Lisa LaMotta , Jacob Bell • May 1, 2017