Reckitt Benckiser taking heat from Australian, British watchdogs for pain med ads

An Australian court ruled that the company misled consumers by marketing the same Nurofen product as several different treatments. Britain's Advertising Standards Authority is also looking into the matter.

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 15, 2015

Shkreli's latest acquire-and-hike antics spotlight review voucher critics' biggest fears

Biopharma's bête noire wants to use his new perch as CEO of KaloBios to make the 1970s-era Chagas disease treatment benznidazole cost as much as next-gen hep C drugs like Sovaldi—and to get a valuable review voucher in the process.

By Sy Mukherjee • Dec. 15, 2015

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

Lilly prices cancer med Portrazza at nearly 10 times docs' recommendation

Physicians say that, based on its efficacy, the $11,000-plus per month price should be closer to $1,870.

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 14, 2015

The new PCSK9 scorecard: Praluent favored by UnitedHealth, Repatha by CVS, both by Express Scripts

The nation's largest private health insurer announced on Friday that the Sanofi/Regeneron cholesterol-lowering med would be the preferred option of its PBM, guaranteeing an intense marketing battle between the companies and rival Amgen.

By Nicole Gray , Sy Mukherjee • Dec. 11, 2015

WSJ details the painstaking process behind pricing a major Pfizer cancer med

The breast cancer treatment Ibrance, expected to become a blockbuster, costs $9,850 per month. But coming to that figure wasn't easy for the pharma giant. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 10, 2015

Senators mull speedier generics pathway amid outrage over Turing, Valeant price hikes

In a hearing Wednesday, senators expressed anger over recent hikes in drug prices and explored ways to incentivize competition in older off-patent drug markets. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 9, 2015

High specialty drug prices help drive renewed spike in 2014 healthcare spending

Although overall health spending increased by 5.3% in 2014, the rate of growth was still much slower than in previous years. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 4, 2015

Martin Shkreli's big regret: Not pricing Daraprim even higher

During an intense exchange with Forbes' Matt Herper, the outspoken pharma exec doubled down on his position, arguing that a 5,000% increase for the drug wasn't enough and making the case that shareholder return always comes first.

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 4, 2015

Pharma's PR problem: 53% of Americans blame pursuit of profits for high drug prices

And more than 70% of those polled did not believe the prices of branded prescription drugs were reasonable. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 2, 2015

US Senate report slams Gilead over Sovaldi price, insinuates culture of profits over patients

The report reveals that Medicaid programs spent $1.3 billion in 2014 (before rebates) on Gilead drugs to treat only 2.4% of enrollees with hepatitis C. But the company is pushing back against the narrative—hard.

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 2, 2015

Express Scripts banishes Turing from formulary, turns to compounder for generic Daraprim

The largest pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) in the U.S. is partnering with Imprimis for a $1-per-pill Daraprim (pyrimethamine) option. 

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 2, 2015

World AIDS Day: PrEP uptake main hurdle to 2030 eradication goal as Obama unleashes action plan

The president on Tuesday outlined a federal action plan for tackling HIV/AIDS which endorsed full access to PrEP for at-risk individuals. Will his remarks help increase use of the controversial therapy?

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 1, 2015

How China is getting serious about developing quality drugs right at home

As Chinese biopharma companies experience substantial growth, China hopes to further foster a domestic drug market.

By Nicole Gray • Dec. 1, 2015

What's driving the rapid rise in dermatology drug prices?

Prices for branded prescription dermatology products increased 500% over six years, according to a recent study.

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 30, 2015

In blow to Sanofi/Regeneron, CVS favors Amgen's competing PCSK9 med for its formulary

Once CVS Health determined that Repatha and Praluent were therapeutically equivalent, it became all about price negotiations. 

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 24, 2015

Pharma advertising powerhouse is born with Pfizer, Allergan megamerger

Pfizer alone spent $1.4 billion in measured media last year in the U.S.

By David Kirkpatrick • Nov. 24, 2015

How biopharma companies can thrive in the era of megamergers and shrinking budgets

We spoke with James Crowley at Accenture Life Sciences about what it takes to not only survive, but to shine, in a hyper-competitive market.

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 24, 2015

Annual cost of specialty drugs surpasses median household income

An AARP Policy Institute report aims to highlight the financial impact of soaring drug costs even though the insured don't pay retail prices.

By Heather Caspi • Nov. 23, 2015

Samsung Bioepis close to major EU approval for Enbrel biosimilar

The European Medicines Agency recommended approval of Benepali, heating up the biosimilar market for Enbrel. 

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 23, 2015

Why marketers think they'll win in doctors' new war on DTC drug ads

The American Medical Association's proposed ban on direct-to-consumer prescription drug ads threatens to end a $4.5B ad category and is being slammed by pharma companies, and particularly marketers.

By Natalia Angulo • Nov. 20, 2015

Big pharma trying to quash CA drug price cap effort with massive campaign war chest

J&J, AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, and BMS all have contributed to a fund aimed at defeating the "California Drug Price Relief Act."

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 20, 2015

IMS 2020 forecast: Drug spending will hit a whopping $1.4 trillion

The spike in spending will be driven by increased uptake in emerging markets and the impact of high-priced specialty drugs, according to the group. 

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 19, 2015

Early scripts for female libido pill Addyi fall flat, Valeant left holding the bag

Only 227 Addyi (flibanserin 100 mg) prescriptions were dispensed in the first few weeks post-launch, and the hits just keep coming for Valeant.

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 19, 2015

In unexpected setback, UK cost regulators reject Amgen's PCSK9 drug

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) decided against including Repatha (evolocumab) on the UK's list of reimbursable drugs due to concerns about cost-effectiveness and clinical outcomes. 

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 19, 2015

Paris attack forces Isis Pharma to again consider name change

The problem is self-evident, but the company is hesitant to give up a brand name that took 25 years to build. 

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 18, 2015