Study: Cancer drugs in US cost up to 6,000% of production cost

Patients in the U.S. pay more than twice as much for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), used to treat cancer, than their European counterparts.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 23, 2015

UPDATE: Shkreli backtracks on 5,000% price hike after outrage, doesn't specify new cost

Hedge fund manager-turned-pharma chief Martin Shkreli said the move was justified and necessary to fund R&D. Now, after outrage on social media and from politicians, he says Turing will bring the price down.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 22, 2015

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

Clinton calls out Turing & Shkreli on wild price hike, releases pharma cost cap plan

When the Democratic presidential front-runner tweeted her plans to release a drug price-control plan on Monday, the Nasdaq Biotech Index dropped nearly 5%. 

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 22, 2015

Report: Glaxo withheld critical data on antidepressant Seroxat

The British Medical Journal has criticized the pharma giant for withholding clinical trial data showing that Seroxat (paroxetine) is neither safe nor effective in adolescents.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 17, 2015

An update on first-ever US biosim Zarxio 2 weeks after its debut

We spoke with the senior director of biosimilars research at Decision Resources Group to get her assessment of the historic (by U.S. standards) Neupogen biosim—and to ask why it's not as discounted as some had expected.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 17, 2015

Reputation matters: Why the rift between pharma and patients is ballooning

"The level of antagonism toward pharma in the U.S. is a surprise, especially considering how deep it goes." - Dr. Alex Wyke, CEO and founder of PatientView

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 15, 2015

ICER: Novartis' expected heart failure mega-blockbuster overpriced just 17%

That's a far cry from the massive slashes the group recently recommended for pricey new PCSK9 meds. And a 17% reduction could easily be achieved via discounts to payers.

By Sy Mukherjee • Sept. 15, 2015

Federal task force narrows aspirin use guidelines, suggests cancer benefit

According to new guidelines, low-dose aspirin use in the target group can help prevent heart attacks and stroke, while also reducing colon cancer risk.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 15, 2015

A tale of two painkillers: Collegium gets FDA panel rec that eludes Purdue

Concerns over dosing compliance led the panel to overwhelmingly reject Purdue's pain pill despite abuse-deterring properties.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 14, 2015

2 new studies show Gilead's Truvada extremely effective for HIV prevention

According to data used by Gilead to obtain the drug's indication, PrEP prevents HIV infection in 92% of at-risk individuals who take it. Now there is new data confirming those findings. 

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 14, 2015

Express Scripts CEO Paz to retire next May, leaving legacy of price pushbacks

Drug prices only rose 0.7% in Q2 2015, compared with 4.4% in Q2 2014—in large part due to a push for lower drug prices by Express Scripts, CVS, and other payers.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 11, 2015

Pfizer loses major Lyrica patent case in UK, leaving door for generics wide open

Allergan's and Mylan's Lyrica generics will continue to be sold unabated in the U.K. market.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 11, 2015

Africa's largest generic drug maker is on the hunt for acquisitions

Aspen Pharmacare's sales have ballooned 22% in the first half of 2015.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 10, 2015

ICER report says $14,000 PCSK9 meds should actually cost 70% less

That's according to a cost-benefit analysis from the organization. Could the report influence payers' negotiating tactics?

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 10, 2015

PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel pours $200M into cancer stem cell biotech

Stemcentrx, a biotech company focused on combatting cancer by vanquishing "bad" stem cells, has drawn major Silicon Valley investor interest. But can it follow up the hype with results?

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 9, 2015

Roche CEO slams 'stupid,' 'arbitrary' UK decision to cut 17 cancer meds' funding

"It's stupid from a cost point of view," said Roche CEO Severin Schwan of the decision. "How the hell can you ignore all these [drugs'] benefits?" 

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 9, 2015

More than half of doctors have 'no access' policies for reps

According to an AccessMonitor report from ZS Associates, 53% of physicians' practices implemented tight restrictions on pharmaceutical sales reps.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 4, 2015

Moody's upgrades financial outlook for biopharma industry

The ratings firm shifted the sector from "stable" to "positive" based on success of new products.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 4, 2015

The key facts to know about the FDA's new 340B drug discount guidance

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has released updated proposed guidance outlining six criteria a patient must meet to receive discounted drugs.    

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 3, 2015

Amgen launching PCSK9 med Repatha in Europe at steep discount to US price

It will cost anywhere from 38% less to more than 50% less than the topline U.S. market price.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 2, 2015

Pharma takes major offense to French law promoting off-label Avastin use

France allows off-label use of Roche's Avastin (bevacizumab) for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and the industry doesn't like it. 

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 2, 2015

2 major insurers draw lines in the sand for pricey PCSK9 coverage

Aetna and United Healthcare are the first major payers to show exactly how they'll push back on the expensive new cholesterol treatment class.

By Nicole Gray • Sept. 2, 2015

Oncologists question Lilly lung cancer hopeful's pricing in growing trend

The question is whether or not necitumumab only increases life expectancy enough to warrant a huge tab.

By Nicole Gray • Aug. 31, 2015

Pricing & dosing controversies: What to expect after Amgen's new PCSK9 approval

The biotech just won the second FDA approval in this likely blockbuster new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs, and payer pushback is guaranteed. But another big question is: Will Amgen's gambit on just one available dosing regimen pay off? 

By Sy Mukherjee • Aug. 28, 2015

Macro-level innovation: A Q&A with Bain & Company's healthcare guru

We spoke with Bain's head of healthcare about major changes in the way care is delivered in the U.S.—and what it means for biopharma companies specifically.

By Nicole Gray • Aug. 28, 2015