Researchers from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm have developed a patch that combines stainless steel microneedles and a soft polymer base. The team’s work was published this month in PLOS ONE. “To the best of our knowledge, flexible and stretchable patches with arrays of sharp and stiff microneedles have not been demonstrated to date,” […]
Teva coughs up $519m to settle overseas bribery charges
Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:TEVA) will pay $519 million to settle allegations that the company bribed overseas officials in Mexico, Russia and Ukraine to promote its products, according to the U.S. Justice Dept. The department reported that the millions of dollars in bribes occurred for more than a decade. The pharmaceutical giant agreed to $238 million to […]
Bipartisan report from senators calls for drug pricing reform
The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging released a bipartisan report yesterday suggesting ways to respond to spikes in drug pricing. The report comes after a months-long investigation spearheaded by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri). The senators wrote that massive spikes in drug prices are “gouging” patients and that lawmakers should respond. […]
Sunovion, Novartis ink licensing deal for inhaled COPD drugs
Novartis (NYSE:NVS) said today that it out-licensed its U.S. commercial rights for 3 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease drugs to Sunovion Pharmaceuticals. Novartis will commercialize the Utibron Neohaler, Seebri Neohaler, and Arcapta Neohaler inhalation powders outside of the U.S. The Switzerland-based company will manufacture the inhaled powders for Sunovion, according to the agreement. “Given the evolving market […]
Another warning for CareFusion’s Alaris drug pump
The U.K.’s Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency issued a warning today for Carefusion‘s Alaris syringe drug pumps. The UK watchdog said that Alaris pumps with broken springs in the plunger assembly could accidentally release a single dose of medication if the pump also uses non-recommended syringes. “This problem comes about through a combination of using […]
Actelion, J&J re-enter takeover negotations
Actelion (VTX:ATLN) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) have re-entered talks to reach a takeover deal, after the US healthcare giant reportedly abandoned its efforts last week. Some suggest that this could mean the end of Sanofi‘s (NYSE:SNY) attempt to make a deal with the Swiss biotech firm, according to Reuters. J&J and Actelion had been engaged in informal talks […]
Fluor to build Novo Nordisk’s $2b manufacturing facility in North Carolina
Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR) said yesterday that it landed a contract to build Novo Nordisk‘s (NYSE:NVO) $2 billion diabetes active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facility in Clayton, North Carolina. Since Denmark-based Novo Nordisk announced plans for the facility in August 2015, Fluor has been providing basic design services for the project. The manufacturing facility will measure 830,000 […]
Researchers’ bionic pancreas outperforms standard insulin pump therapy
Researchers from Boston University have developed a bionic pancreas system that outperformed conventional insulin pump therapy for patients with type 1 diabetes, according to a trial conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital. The team’s work was published in The Lancet. This device is the latest development in the race to make an entirely closed loop insulin pump system, […]
Artificial leaf produces drugs using solar energy
Researchers from the Eindhoven University of Technology have reportedly developed a leaf-inspired mini-factory to produce drugs using solar energy. The team’s work could allow medicine to be made in resource-deprived areas, as long as there is sunlight. “Theoretically, you could use this device to make drug compounds with solar energy anywhere you want,” lead researcher […]
Eyenovia touts phase II study data
Eyenovia Inc. touted data from its phase II study evaluating the safety and efficacy of its high-precision ophthalmic microtherapeutics compared to conventional eyedropper treatment. The trial comes on the heels of a previous phase II study published in Therapeutic Delivery in October. New York-based Eyenovia’s trial demonstrated that its microdosing achieved superior pharmacologic effects and bioavailability compared to […]