Teva's Copaxone still growing despite patent risks

Teva's strategy of transitioning its MS patients to a long-acting version of the drug after a generic challenge appears to have paid off: Copaxone accounted for 49% of the company's profit growth last quarter. 

By Edwin Lopez • Aug. 5, 2016

Gilead: 'We stand behind the pricing of our therapies'

Pushing back on a critical article in The BMJ, Gilead defended its decision to set the list price of Sovaldi at $84,000 per treatment course. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 4, 2016

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

With new exclusions, payers draw line on pricing

CVS Health's decision to list Novartis' biosimilar version of Neupogen also highlighted the growing competitive threat to pricey biologics. 

By Nicole Gray • Aug. 3, 2016

Higher Humira sales lift AbbVie in Q2

Yet with biosimilar competition to Humira threatening, AbbVie has invested heavily in oncology to offset potential revenue loss in the future. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 29, 2016

Merck's Keytruda continues gains, driving Q2 revenues higher

But sales of Keytruda remain well behind that of Bristol-Myers' competing immunotherapy Opdivo. Merck hopes to make up ground through new indications in lung cancer. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 29, 2016

Bristol-Myers revenues climb on strong Opdivo performance

But sales of the company's other cancer immunotherapy Yervoy declined again, likely impacted by competition. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 28, 2016

Amgen boosts sales forecast as Q2 profits jump

Higher sales of Enbrel, Amgen's top-selling drug, helped drive the earnings. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 27, 2016

Health plans slow to adopt new drug value assessments: survey

Although rising prices have put a spotlight on prescription drug value, none of the health plans surveyed by Avalere Health indicated they used newly developed value frameworks. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 26, 2016

Lilly blames stiff competition for lower US sales of lung cancer drugs

While Lilly had a strong second quarter overall, rival immuno-oncology drugs cut into US sales of Alimta and Cyramza. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 26, 2016

Gilead trims guidance as Hepatitis C drug sales slip

Heavily dependent on sales of Harvoni and Sovaldi, Gilead's revenues dropped by nearly 6% in the second quarter, compared to a year prior. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 25, 2016

Japanese government to set new controls on specialty drugs: report

Amgen's Repatha and Bristol-Myers' Opdivo will be the first drugs targeted by new guidelines, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. 

By Nicole Gray • July 25, 2016

Ireland, pharma companies agree to deal limiting drug price growth

The deal could limit generic and biosimilar competition by setting pre-defined price reductions upon entry of a copycat drug, critics say. 

By Edwin Lopez • July 22, 2016

Novartis CEO sees more restrictive drug pricing to come in US

Speaking to the Financial Times, Joe Jimenez said drug pricing would become more difficult regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election this fall. 

By Nicole Gray • July 21, 2016

What's so scary about biosimilars?

Biosimilars have been on the market in Europe for years but are just starting to break out in the U.S. Yet some in the medical community remain skeptical, prompting developers to double down on education. 

By Nicole Gray • July 20, 2016

Federal court thwarts AstraZeneca efforts to block Crestor copies

Allergan already markets a generic version of the $5 billion cholesterol drug, but Tuesday's ruling cleared the way for new rivals. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 20, 2016

Report: US drug prices often higher than in other developed countries

For example, a month's supply of Gilead's hepatitis C drug Harvoni cost an average of $32,114 in the U.S., but only $22,554 in the U.K. and $18,165 in Spain, according to the report. 

By Edwin Lopez • July 20, 2016

Amgen partners with Daiichi to market biosimilars in Japan

Fresh off winning the backing of an FDA panel for its biosim of Humira, Amgen is readying copycat versions of other big-name biologics. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 14, 2016

FDA approves broader use of Pfizer's pneumonia vaccine

Prevnar is now approved for use in adults between the ages of 18 and 49.

By Nicole Gray • July 13, 2016

Increase in US cancer center ad spending fueled by single company

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America accounted for nearly 60% of overall ad money spent by cancer centers in 2014, a JAMA study found. 

By Nicole Gray • July 12, 2016

FDA staff backs Amgen biosim of AbbVie's Humira

An independent advisory panel is set to review Amgen's application early next week. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 8, 2016

Pfizer pledges to disclose risks of opioid addiction

In an agreement with the city of Chicago, the drug giant committed to strict standards for marketing and promoting the addictive painkillers. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 6, 2016

Federal appeals court reaffirms biosimilar launch rules

The Supreme Court is considering whether to hear a related case on when biosimilar drugmakers must notify brand name companies of their intent to sell copy biologics.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 5, 2016

Insys stages recovery as FDA approves liquid THC drug

Syndros, Insys' second-approved drug, is still awaiting DEA scheduling however. 

By Edwin Lopez • July 5, 2016

UK cost agency knocks back Bristol-Myers' Opdivo in kidney cancer

In draft guidance, the watchdog raised concerns over the cancer immunotherapy's long term benefit in treating renal cell carcinoma. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 5, 2016

Gilead reveals new wave of price hikes for six drugs

Among the six were the HIV drugs Complera and Stribild, along with the blood cancer drug Zydelig. 

By Edwin Lopez • July 5, 2016