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

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

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

Diabetes decline hangs over Sanofi's growth in specialty care, immunology

Strong growth from Sanofi's Genzyme unit and launch of Dupixent has the French drugmaker touting its new potential, but worsening diabetes performance could dampen some of that enthusiasm. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 28, 2017

BioMarin's Batten disease drug gets a yes at a cost of $702K

Brineura, BioMarin's drug for the ultra-rare CLN2 pediatric brain disorder, could have a price tag of almost half a million dollars a year, even after discounts. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • April 28, 2017

AbbVie: We have more cash than we need

The specialty pharma reported strong earnings for Humira and discussed the options those strong sales open up from a business development standpoint. 

By Lisa LaMotta • April 27, 2017

Amgen optimistic despite sales saying otherwise

Disappointing sales for its flagship Enbrel and blockbuster-hopeful Repatha underscored the lack of promising new therapies coming out of the big biotech. 

By Lisa LaMotta • April 27, 2017

Amid sales growth, Roche plans defense from biosimilar threats

Positive results from APHINITY give Roche confidence it can manage incoming competition to its HER2 franchise while newer drugs like Ocrevus come on line. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 27, 2017

Sanofi missed out on EpiPen and it's not happy

The French pharma has filed suit against Mylan for anti-competitive practices in the epinephrine space, despite it dropping the product. 

By Lisa LaMotta • April 26, 2017

Q1 Earnings Preview: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, BMS, Celgene, Roche, Sanofi

Immuno-oncology will be in the spotlight over the next few days as AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers and Roche are set to present new details on their competing drugs.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Lisa LaMotta , Jacob Bell • April 26, 2017

FDA busts 14 companies for selling bogus cancer cures

The regulator sent warning letters to all 14 firms demanding removal of the mostly digital ads and videos that fraudulently touted miraculous new treatments. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 25, 2017

Biogen underscores Ocrevus' threat to MS revenues

The company pointed to warehousing of multiple sclerosis patients for lukewarm sales in the first quarter, and Roche's treatment may be one reason why.

By Jacob Bell • April 25, 2017

Valeant prices psoriasis drug at $42K per year

The drugmaker, which has a controversial history with the pricing of its products, claimed Siliq is the "lowest injectable biologic psoriasis treatment currently on the market."

By Jacob Bell • April 21, 2017

Market forces push uniQure to abandon Glybera

The biotech has finally given up on its pricey gene therapy after the drug failed to gain traction in the EU. 

By Lisa LaMotta • April 20, 2017

Improving outcomes start before drug launch

Patient-centered pre-launch communications and evidence-based approaches to marketing are key to successfully preparing healthcare providers to obtain better outcomes. 

By By Rob Peters, EVP, Strategy, MicroMass Communications, Inc. • April 18, 2017

Biotech calls on 'Poop Troop' to drive constipation awareness

Synergy Pharmaceuticals launched a set of 14 downloadable poop emojis aimed at encouraging conversation around the sensitive topic. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 12, 2017

Gilead works on lifecycle management for Sovaldi as Hep C franchise wanes

The FDA's approval of Harvoni and Sovaldi in patients 12 and older is the latest example.

By Jacob Bell • April 12, 2017

Neurocrine's Ingrezza secures FDA approval

The company's stock jumped more than 20% after the FDA approved the tardive dyskinesia drug — Neurocrine's first product cleared for market.

By Jacob Bell • April 12, 2017

What pharma needs to know about local healthcare markets

Aligning customer engagement teams to local healthcare markets could enable pharmaceutical reps and account managers to deliver better value to patients.

By Paul Darling • April 11, 2017

In familiar routine, ICER finds rheumatoid arthritis drugs overpriced

The research group has come under fire from the industry for its cost-effectiveness calculations, which have found many top brands to be too expensive. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 10, 2017