Roche investigating off-label Avastin use after 15 Indian patients hospitalized

Roche has emphatically reiterated Avastin is not approved for intraocular use in either India or the United States. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 26, 2016

OPDP warns Hospira about misleading YouTube video

The video, for Hospira's sedative Precedex, failed to present adequate risk information according to the office. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 25, 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

Walgreens CEO hops on the pricing critic train, says consumer Rx should be cheaper

Stefano Pessina, whose retail pharmacy giant recently struck a 20-year distribution deal with the embattled Valeant, thinks consumers should be further shielded from pricing pain. 

By Sy Mukherjee • Jan. 22, 2016

Reviewing Gilead's formidable 2015: A year marked by higher sales and new criticism

The biotech giant's sales continued to chug along in the midst of an industry-wide controversy over high drug prices. We examined the company's performance last year—and what it tells us about what to expect in 2016.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 22, 2016

Glaxo chief: Consumer unit can stand on its own—but don't expect a spinoff soon

According to Andrew Witty, the British pharma giant's consumer health division is headed towards a $14 billion value.

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 22, 2016

Novo Nordisk eyes the future, expands presence in Iran as sanctions lift

Novo will roughly double its workforce in the Middle Eastern nation, adding to a $76 million investment it made in a local factory back in September 2015. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 22, 2016

Big data: The key to healthier patients, better margins, & making Cancer MoonShot 2020 a reality

We spoke with Bain’s head of global healthcare to gain insight into the growing impact of big data analytics on the biopharma industry, as well as tips for how companies can update their digital strategy. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 20, 2016

NY strikes price cut, CVS distribution deal for Amphastar's heroin overdose antidote

NY Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a 20% price cut for the life-saving medication Narcan on Tuesday.

By Sy Mukherjee • Jan. 20, 2016

Off-label use of Avastin in India hospitalizes 15, sales halted in two states

Roche's Avastin is commonly used off-label to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but the FDA has not approved it for that purpose. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 19, 2016

Taiwan election results buoy biotech sector, president-elect seen as major ally

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen has said that she wishes to boost Taiwan's biotechnology industry. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 19, 2016

Novartis' psoriasis mega-blockbuster hopeful Cosentyx nabs 2 new indications

The FDA has expanded its approval of Cosentyx to include the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis in adults. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 19, 2016

Cipla's pipeline bursting with more than 200 drugs

The large Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company forecasts sales of more than $30 billion for the top 50 drugs in its pipeline.

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 15, 2016

Glaxo heading to court over generic Paxil claims in suicide case

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) faces a September trial over charges of failure-to-warn about the antidepressant's side effects, which allegedly led to the suicide of an adult man taking the drug. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 15, 2016

ASCO: Reform the 'clinical pathways' approach to cancer

The American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) this week released new policy recommending the 'clinical pathways' approach be made more transparent and consistent. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 14, 2016

Cancer MoonShot 2020: Independence Blue Cross to cover genome sequencing costs

Billionaire biotech entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong says that he and other collaborators will try to get more insurers on board to cover the costs associated with genomic sequencing for cancer patients.

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 13, 2016

Pharma execs dismiss protests over drug pricing, focus on deal-making at JPM16

Protesters have been demonstrating outside JPMorgan Conference sites, holding signs accusing Gilead of price-gouging. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 13, 2016

Cervical Health Awareness Month: How far we've come since Nixon declared war on cancer

When it comes to fighting cervical cancer, a 10-year-old drug is giving women new hope—and HPV vaccine marketers are trying to demystify the benefit-risk equation for physicians and parents. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 13, 2016

Glaxo to stop paying physicians to promote its drugs

But the firm will still pay doctors for research. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 13, 2016

Study: PPIs for heartburn linked to increased risk of kidney disease

That includes proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec, Prevacid, and Zegerid.

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 12, 2016

Novartis CEO to unveil growth program for Alcon unit amidst falling sales

CEO Joe Jimenez plans to announce a new plan later this month in hopes of turning around Alcon's trajectory. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 12, 2016

New year brings higher prices for 100 Pfizer drugs

As of January 1, Pfizer raised prices on some drugs by as much as 20%. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 11, 2016

Medical marijuana clinics open in New York with strict restrictions

Eight medical marijuana dispensaries opened their doors this week, making New York the 23rd state, along with Washington D.C., to launch a medical marijuana program. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 8, 2016

Brazil trims vaccine doses as recession deepens

The Health Ministry will cut back on the doses of vaccinations provided for treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV) and pneumonia.

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 7, 2016

Global breast cancer treatment market forecast to hit $17.2 billion by 2021

This represents a 65% increase compared to 2014's $10.4 billion market. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 6, 2016

How one pharma marketing exec hit back at the AMA's call to ban DTC drug ads

The AMA adopted a controversial new policy last fall calling for a ban of consumer drug ads. However, any change in DTC advertising law would have to come from Congress. 

By Nicole Gray • Jan. 6, 2016