Amgen hits a snag after a long bull run; an NEJM letter provokes a response from Biogen Idec; AstraZeneca is troubled generics; Europe freezes, and so does a manufacturing facility.
Germany’s HTA IQWiG has approved Bristol/Pfizer’s Eliquis (apixaban) for atrial fibrillation but restricted the oral anticoagulant’s indication, leaving a potential gap for its rivals to fill.
Britain’s NICE has rejected Pfizer’s Xalkori (crizotinib) for lung cancer and Inlyta (axitinib) for kidney carcinoma within two days of each other, putting drug discounts back in the spotlight.
Industry and regulators are showing more interest in implementing adaptive licensing in Europe. Both sides agree that increased trust and transparency could be stepping stones towards this goal.
The updated German Pharmaceutical Act will ensure that drug prices negotiated there between pharmaceutical manufacturers and health insurers will remain hidden from public view, as Germany’s government seeks to avoid a pan-European drug price crash.
Changes to Germany’s drug reimbursement law have permitted Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly to submit an updated dossier for their oral therapy Trajenta, giving medicine makers who operate there hope that further positive amendments will occur.
Janssen Biotech has signed its second deal in less than two months with antibody discovery company Genmab, this time licensing the Danish company's potential first-in-class multiple myeloma therapy daratumumab for $55 million upfront and an equity investment.
Cinven’s $730 million acquisition of the U.K.-based specialty company Mercury Pharma could act as a platform to consolidate the sector in Europe, suggests the private equity company.
The European Commission’s allegations against Servier for alleged patent abuses could help to clarify the law in this area for original product manufacturers in the long term.
