Specialty medications currently lead the charts in terms of new drug approvals by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On top of the heap are orphan drugs, treatments for rare diseases or those with no current therapeutics. In a new Pharmacy Practice News article, learn more about the orphan […]
First Humira Biosimilar Finally Hits Pharmacies with Two Price Points
After a 20-year monopoly on the market, AbbVie’s Humira has lost exclusivity with the entrance of Amgen’s biosimilar, Amjevita. This marks the beginning of the end of the $114 billion rheumatoid arthritis drug’s dominance, propped up by widely critiqued patent thicketing. The biosimilar will follow […]
FDA Approves Two New Treatments for Breast Cancer and Lymphoma
Eli Lilly and the Menarini Group have both gotten the nod from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their new cancer medications. Lilly’s therapeutic for relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma, called Jaypirca, is only the fourth drug of its kind approved by the agency. It will cost […]
US Senator Elizabeth Warren Asks FTC to Investigate Two Pharma Mergers
US Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has expressed her concerns regarding two upcoming major pharma mergers, calling for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate them. The two mergers are Amgen’s planned acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics for $28 billion and Indivior’s $145 million buyout of […]
US Court of Appeals Sides with Pharma Over HHS on 340B Case
A US Court of Appeals ruled in favor of AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi in a case over the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The court decided that the companies could not be held responsible to provide the discounts mandated by the program at an unlimited number of pharmacies serving under-insured, […]
Pharma Prepares for Bernie Sanders as US Senate Health Committee Chairman
US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has decried prescription drug prices and insurer practices throughout his political career. Now, as chairman of the Senate health committee, he will guide hearings and investigations into major pharma companies, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and insurers. […]
South Korean Pharma Industry Group Asks Government for Industry Steering Committee
According to the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association (KPBMA), an industry group comprised of pharma companies based in South Korea, the nation should establish a steering committee helmed by industry leaders. The committee, according to KPBMA Chairman Won Hee-mok, would […]
Almost 1,000 US Drug Prices Hiked So Far in 2023
Drugmakers have raised the price of almost 1,000 prescription drugs this past month alone. These price hikes are anything but transparent for patients, as they are often obfuscated by complicated rebate schemes and reimbursement practices. Some lay the blame on upcoming provisions of the Inflation […]
J&J and Legend’s CAR-T Therapy Better Than Standard Care in Phase III Trial
J&J and Legend Biotech have announced new results from their CARTITUDE-4 trial that shows their new CAR-T therapy Carvykti is more effective at treating multiple myeloma than standard care. The companies say that the therapy, which many predict to be an upcoming blockbuster, has achieved the […]
Using the UK’s Innovative Medicines Fund to Accelerate Rare Disease Drug Development and Access
The UK’s Innovative Medicines Fund (IMF) was started in collaboration with the NHS England and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to provide novel medicines with unresolved uncertainties to patients with rare non-cancer diseases that have little treatment options. In doing so, […]
