The new Medicare Part D drug spending report only tells part of the story

According to newly released CMS data, providing Nexium to seniors cost Medicare $2.5 billion in 2013—but that doesn't factor in rebates.

By Nicole Gray • May 5, 2015

Viagra bucks global slowdown trend in China, sales soar 47%

Overall global sales of the Pfizer mainstay plunged 24%.

By Nicole Gray • May 4, 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

Gilead dazzles, profits double in Q1 on strong hep C sales

The biotech's shares jumped about 4% in Friday morning trading on the news.

By Nicole Gray • May 1, 2015

The 10 brand name drugs that cost Medicare Part D the most money in 2013

Generics cost the insurance program for the elderly the most money overall. But among branded meds, Part D spent the most money on drugs like Nexium and Advair.

By Sy Mukherjee • April 30, 2015

Merck antibiotic combo Zerbaxa shows efficacy in complicated infections

Zerbaxa is intended for use in treating complicated urinary tract infections and complicated intra-abdominal infections.

By Nicole Gray • April 30, 2015

Valeant CFO to resign; company beats expectations for quarter

The resignation announcement comes months after Valeant's failed bid to acquire Allergan.

By Nicole Gray • April 30, 2015

Snap up a rival, then hike its drugs' prices—is this pharma's new normal?

Just one example: Valeant bought the rights to Nitropress and Isuprel—both CVD drugs—and increased prices by 525% and 212%, respectively.

By Nicole Gray • April 28, 2015

Report: Multiple sclerosis drug prices skyrocketing—even for older meds

A new study in Neurology shows that drug prices for older multiple sclerosis (MS) drug continued to increase even when new drugs were introduced. 

By Nicole Gray • April 27, 2015

Are steady generic drug price hikes coming to an end?

Or at the very least, a slowdown?

By Nicole Gray • April 23, 2015

Inside Gilead's ambitious new hep C elimination project in Georgia

Gilead will provide free hepatitis C drugs to infected residents of the Eurasian nation in an effort to create a hep C-free zone.

By Nicole Gray • April 23, 2015

Benefits manager warns Vertex's cystic fibrosis Kalydeco combo too pricey

Prime Therapeutics has estimated that the new combo treatment would cost the healthcare system $4.5 billion. 

By Nicole Gray • April 17, 2015

Why did Rx drug spending in the US reach an all-time high in 2014?

Prescription drug sales increased 13% year over year, to $374 billion. Many onlookers are asking why.

By Nicole Gray • April 15, 2015

Glaxo to tweak unique US sales rep compensation plan amid complaints

Glaxo launched the Patient First program four years ago in an effort to discourage purely volume-based prescriptions. But it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for reps.

By Nicole Gray • April 14, 2015

Angelina Jolie-driven surge in pricey genetic test requests has payers on edge

Medical researchers have dubbed the increased demand for genetic testing the "Angelina effect."

By Nicole Gray • April 13, 2015

Sanofi digs in heels, won't discount Lantus insulin successor Toujeo

The decision may make it more difficult for the company to win over skeptics unsure of how much of an improvement the products is over the blockbuster Lantus.  

By Sy Mukherjee • April 13, 2015

Billionaire Fidelity CEO betting big on cancer companies with personal money

Abigail Johnson, a billionaire, has invested personal money in Coherus Biosciences, Adaptimmune Therapeutics, ViewRay, and Blueprint Medicines Corp.

By Nicole Gray • April 10, 2015

3rd largest Medicaid program didn't spend a dime on Sovaldi due to high cost

Public and private payers alike say they've been struggling with the pricey hep C cure, and Texas' Medicaid program is no exception.

By Sy Mukherjee • April 9, 2015

Amgen CEO scores big pay package on record profits

Robert Bradway earned $14 million last year. 

By Nicole Gray • April 7, 2015

Pfizer to immediately cease vaccine sales in China over licensing spat

The Chinese government did not renew an import license for the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar.

By Sy Mukherjee • April 2, 2015

Amgen loses Neupogen biosimilar battle—again

The request was intended to delay the introduction of biosimilar Neupogen (filgrastim).

By Nicole Gray • April 1, 2015

Provocative: Analyst says hot new PD-1 cancer drugs are massively overrated

Analyst Amit Roy says that drugs' global market will only be about $10 billion annually—a mere fraction of more optimistic estimates.

By Nicole Gray • April 1, 2015

Glaxo settles J&J suit over allergy med advertisement claims

Johnson & Johnson accused GSK of making false claims about its OTC allergy therapy, Flonase, at the expense of J&J's Benadryl and Zyrtec. 

By Nicole Gray • March 31, 2015

Glaxo finally strikes UK deal for Bexsero that eluded Novartis

Until recently, Novartis owned this meningitis B vaccine, and was in a price stand-off with the British government. 

By Nicole Gray • March 30, 2015

Confirmed: Sanofi's Toujeo launches in US Monday, setting up diabetes race

The next-gen basal insulin was approved in the U.S. on February 25.

By Nicole Gray • March 30, 2015

J&J moving forward in China despite regulatory crackdowns

Are the Chinese government's regulatory restrictions against foreign pharma companies intended to give domestic companies an advantage?

By Nicole Gray • March 27, 2015