Pharmalot... Pharmalittle... Good Morning
Good morning, folks, and nice to see you again. We hope the weekend was relaxing and refreshing, because yet another working week has just begun. You knew this would happen, yes? So did we. And to prepare, we have once again brewed a cup of stimulation to help us along. As always, we invite you to join us. After all, there is no shame in getting some assistance to fire up your brain first thing in the morning. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits. Have a grand day and do stay in touch... Bayer Hires Pfizer's Brandicourt To Run Healthcare Operations (Reuters) Roche Cancer Drug Shrinks Tumors In 26 Percent Of Smokers (Bloomberg ...
Source: Pharmalot - September 30, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs

UK To Keep Special Cancer Drug Fund As Battle Over NICE Rages
The pharmaceutical industry has won a victory in the UK, where the government has decided to renew more than $300 million in special funding for a controversial program that is used to pay for pricey cancer medicines that NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, has decided offer insufficient value for reimbursement. The Cancer Drugs Fund, which was created three years ago and is set to expire early next year, emerged after sustained criticism from drugmakers and the media that NICE rejected too many medicines for coverage by the UK National Health Service and, as a result, denied patients needed treatm...
Source: Pharmalot - September 27, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs

Takeda Loses Second Actos Trial Over Bladder Cancer Risks
A Maryland state court jury ordered Takeda Pharmaceuticals to pay $1.7 million in damages for failing to properly warn a former US Army translator and his physician about the risk of cancer associated with the Actos diabetes drug. Starting in 2007, Diep An took the medication but was diagnosed with bladder cancer four years later.  However, under Maryland law, the verdict was set aside immediately because the jury also found An contributed to his own death. How so? He smoked for 30 years and “failed to exercise reasonable and ordinary care for his own health and safety, and that his failure was a substantial factor in c...
Source: Pharmalot - September 27, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs

Grassley Probes Two Drugmakers Over 340B Pricing Program
In the latest squabble over the controversial 340B Drug Pricing Program, US Senator Chuck Grassley has written two drugmakers and demanded they explain why they refused to provide required discounts to an Iowa hospital. The Iowa Republican took this move after confirming with the US Health Resources Services Administration that the drugmakers should have offered lower prices. The hospital, which has not been named, contacted Grassley in July after he began probing alleged abuses of the 340B program. Earlier this week, he wrote CSL Behring, which makes an antidote for blood thinner poisoning called Kcentra, and to Pacira Ph...
Source: Pharmalot - September 27, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs

Forget The Apology: Japan To Raid Novartis Offices Over Diovan Scandal
Japanese authorities plan to raid Novartis offices after a health ministry panel concluded that the drugmaker should be held responsible for using falsified research to market its Diovan heart medicine. An interim report, which is expected to be released next week, will also estimate the financial impact that the studies had on national health insurance finances, suggesting penalties may be levied. “The panel has been examining the possibility of exaggerated advertisements (for the drug), which is a violation of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, and will urge the government to take strict actions," against the Novartis uni...
Source: Pharmalot - September 27, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs