Express Scripts gearing up to snub Gilead in favor of AbbVie hep C drug

Express Scripts' medical chief made it clear last week that the company's looking for an HCV treatment that is as effective as Gilead's Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)—but cheaper.

By Nicole Gray • Nov. 3, 2014

ICYMI: 5 movies where biopharma goes horribly wrong

From deadly epidemics to mad scientists' experiments, these five horror/thriller flicks are sure to get your heart racing. 

By Sy Mukherjee • Oct. 31, 2014

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 Viehbacher gone, who will be the next Sanofi chief?

Every team needs a leader, and Sanofi's board of directors knows that. The question is: who can offer the type of pharmaceutical company leadership—and communication style—the board wants?

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 30, 2014

Diving into the future of fixed-dose combos

From respiratory disease to HIV therapeutics, fixed-dose combinations are an important part of drug development. The regulatory hurdles are high—but so are the rewards.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 30, 2014

Gilead shares fall on lower-than-expected Sovaldi sales

Sovaldi sales were down from $3.5 billion in Q2 to $2.8 billion in Q3. But Gilead's overall sales were up on a quarter-to-quarter basis.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 29, 2014

UPDATED: Judge slashes Actos class action award from $9 billion to $36.8 million

Lilly and Takeda breathe a sigh of relief. 

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 29, 2014

Cost-effectiveness: Treat prisoners with Sovaldi now, save money later

A new cost-effectiveness study shows that treating prisoners with Sovaldi can not only help offset long-term Medicaid costs, but prevent released prisoners from spreading hep C.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 29, 2014

Pfizer posts weaker-than-expected Q3 while Sanofi CEO gets the boot

Global powerhouses Pfizer and Sanofi faced generic erosion, intense market competition, and government pricing pressures in Q3. It proved too much for Sanofi chief Chris Viehbacher.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 29, 2014

Novartis smashes in Q3 as earnings soar 45%

Although much of Novartis' profit rise for Q3 2014 was attributable to the Idenix divestiture, the firm also enjoyed notable increases in generics and ophthalmology sales.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 28, 2014

Determined Shire ratchets up 2014 forecast, again

A busted $55 billion deal with AbbVie? What busted $55 billion deal with AbbVie?

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 27, 2014

Merck beats Q3 forecasts, scores another Keytruda 'breakthrough'

Merck's revenues were down more than 20%, but some rigorous cost-cutting helped the company beat EPS expectations. And the FDA granted the historic Keytruda a second breakthrough designation.

By Sy Mukherjee • Oct. 27, 2014

BMS beats analyst expectations on strong cancer, RA drug sales

Cancer treatment Yervoy and rheumatoid arthritis drug Orencia both had impressive gains in sales.

By Sy Mukherjee • Oct. 24, 2014

Soliris sales drive Alexion's Q3 earnings beyond the loftiest expectations

Alexion Pharmaceuticals earned net income of $177.7 million in Q3 2014 versus $93.8 million in Q3 2013, an increase of 47%.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 24, 2014

Lilly's Q3 profits drop sharply, hammered by patent expirations

Can the company's diabetes pipeline reverse the slump?

By Sy Mukherjee • Oct. 23, 2014

Biogen shares down as Tecfidera-treated patient dies from viral brain infection

While there were no cases of PML in Tecfidera clinical trials, it is a potential side effect of oral MS medications​.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 23, 2014

UK patients rally online to demand lower price for Roche's Kadcyla

At $145,000 per year, Roche's breast cancer drug Kadcyla is the most expensive oncologic in the UK.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 23, 2014

Best of BD: Biosimilars in China: The coming revolution

Despite a less rigorous approach to approving biosimilars, China has several approved follow-on biologics—and a growing number of biotechs want to develop biosimilars that meet global standards.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 22, 2014

Glaxo, Abbott Q3 earnings best analyst expectations

Abbott's stellar Q3 report reflects a combination of growth across sectors. GSK was able to raise its outlook despite falling Advair sales and a hefty fine for bribery in China. 

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 22, 2014

Mylan investor pulls $70 million as lethal injection controvery heats up

As the manufacturer of rocuronium bromide, the paralytic in lethal injection cocktails, Mylan is facing criticism and divestment.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 22, 2014

Useful insights: Europe slow to embrace biosimilars of antibody-based drugs

After the EMA approved Hospira's Inflectra—a biosimilar of J&J's Remicade (infliximab)—Hospira launched an intensive marketing campaign. Here's an overview of what's happened since then.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 21, 2014

PhRMA fights back, blames insurance companies for drug access woes

AccessBetterCoverage.org is choc-full of insurance facts. But its real message is that health insurers, and not pharma, are guilty of shifting drug costs onto consumers.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 21, 2014

Is CVS Caremark using cigarette co-pays to muscle out competitors?

And is the new practice by Caremark-managed plans anti-competitive? 

By Katie Bo Williams • Oct. 20, 2014

Game on: Amgen sues Sanofi, Regeneron over PCSK9 cholesterol drug patent

The battle between Amgen's evolocumab and Sanofi/Regeneron's alirocumab heats up.

By Sy Mukherjee • Oct. 17, 2014

New, top-shelf breast cancer drug sales lift Roche above Q3 expectations

For Roche, Q3 revenues hit the $12.5 billion mark on strong sector performance and triple-digit growth for Kadcyla and the game-changing breast cancer drug Perjeta.  

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 16, 2014

J&J forecast up big in Q3 on strong pharma sales

With sales of $18.5 billion—a 5.1% increase over Q3 2013—Johnson & Johnson is riding a wave of growth driven by new, core pharmaceutical products.

By Nicole Gray • Oct. 14, 2014