Mallinckrodt (NYSE:MNK) said today that it enrolled the 1st patient in the pivotal Phase III trial of its StrataGraft skin tissue graft. The study is slated to include patients with 3% to 49% total body surface area of severe thermal burns. Researchers intend to evaluate outcomes including the area of StrataGraft treatment site that requires a subsequent […]
Express Scripts, CVS sued over Mylan’s EpiPen
Express Scripts (NSDQ:ESRX) and CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) were among the pharmacy benefit managers named in a lawsuit last week, when a potential class of patients accused them of violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by failing to negotiate lower prices for Mylan’s EpiPen allergy auto-injector. The suit, filed in the Minnesota District Court, alleges that […]
Biopolymer tested as long-acting glucose control therapy
Researchers from Duke University have developed a biopolymer that could provide weeks of glucose control for patients with diabetes – in a single injection. The controlled-release treatment lasted for weeks in primates, according to a study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. The biomedical engineers suggested that this new, injectable solution could replace daily or weekly insulin shots for […]
Artificial pancreas startup lands funding support from T1D Exchange
Admetsys, a startup developing artificial pancreas tech for hospitals and surgical care, won an investment from T1D Exchange. The terms of the financing were not disclosed. A collaboration between the 2 groups is part of T1D Exchange’s initiative to support the development of automated insulin delivery technology, according to the organization. Hospitalizations can be challenging for […]
Living Cell Technologies NTCell meets primary endpoint in Phase I/IIa Parkinson’s trial
Living Cell Technologies (ASX:LCT) touted data today showing its NTCell cell therapy is safe 130 weeks after treatment in a Phase I/IIa Parkinson’s trial. The study’s primary endpoint was safety. The trial, which enrolled and treated 4 patients, involved implanting 40 NTCell capsules into 1 side of the brain. The company reported that treatment with […]
Inhaled Parkinson’s treatment improves motor function in Phase III
Shares in Acorda Therapeutics (NSDQ:ACOR) jumped this morning after the company reported that its inhaled Parkinson’s drug significantly improved motor function in a Phase III trial. The investigational drug is being studied as a therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease experiencing “off” periods, or a re-emergence of symptoms. The Phase III Span-Pd trial enrolled 339 patients with […]
BD wins 510(k) for intestinal bacteria diagnostic
Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX) said today that it won 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its molecular test that detects harmful intestinal bacteria causing infectious diarrhea. With the approval of its BD Max extended enteric bacteria panel, the company said the majority of pathogens causing acute gastroenteritis can be detected on its automated BD Max molecular […]
Hydrogel tech boosts success of transplanted insulin-producing cells
A hydrogel material embedded with a protein to improve blood vessel growth may boost the success rate of transplanting insulin-producing islet cells into patients with Type I diabetes, according to a preclinical study published in the journal Science Advances. In the newly-published work, supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, […]
Report finds Pfizer has hiked prices of nearly 100 drugs this year
As other major pharma players like Merck (NYSE:MRK) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) vow to limit annual price hikes, a report by the Financial Times found that Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) has raised prices on 91 drugs by an average of 21% in 2017. The most recent price hike at the start of June was the company’s 2nd for […]
Insulet brings on new chief commercial exec | Personnel Moves – June 5, 2017
Insulet (NSDQ:PODD) last month named Bret Christensen as its chief commercial officer to lead the company’s sales, marketing, customer care, market access and advocacy. He most recently served as GM of Myriad Genetics’ preventive care business division. He has also worked as VP of sales and marketing of the gynecologic surgical products unit at Hologic. “I […]