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 […]
Pharmaceuticals
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Draper, Pfizer ink ‘organ-on-a-chip’ deal
Draper said today that it inked a 3-year collaboration deal with Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) to develop Draper’s microphysiological system technology. The ‘organ-on-a-chip’ system is designed to improve preclinical safety and model diseases more effectively. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company’s miniature organ model enables researchers to measure tissue function and test potential new drug candidates. Draper and Pfizer will collaborate […]
21st Century Cures Act adds Hatch-Waxman rule to drug-device combos
Section 3038 of the 21st Century Cures Act applies Hatch-Waxman rules to certain drug-device combination products, addressing the regulatory pathway for devices that incorporate already approved drugs. The Hatch-Waxman Act, named for Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), was approved in 1984. It was designed to make it easier for generic drugs to enter […]
Flamel Technologies dose first patient in Phase III narcolepsy trial
Flamel Technologies (NSDQ:FLML) said today that the 1st patient in its Rest-On phase III clinical trial was dosed with FT218, sodium oxybate, for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in narcolepsy patients.The Lyon, France-based company developed the controlled-release oral formulation of sodium oxybate using its Micropump technology. The randomized, double-blind trial has enrolled […]
Mylan launches first generic EpiPen as state AGs sue generics makers for price collusion
Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) launched its 1st generic EpiPen emergency allergy treatment 1 day after attorney generals from 20 states filed a civil complaint against Mylan, Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:TEVA), and 4 other generic drug makers. The complaint alleges that the companies co-conspired in informal gatherings, calls and text messages to fix the price for glyburide, a diabetes drug, and doxycycline […]
Fresenius expands prefilled syringe portfolio
Fresenius (NYSE:FMS) business group Fresenius Kabi said today that it added its heparin sodium injection to the company’s Simplist prefilled syringe portfolio. The prefilled syringe for subcutaneous and intravenous bolus injections expands Fresenius Kabi’s available Heparin formulations. The Lake Zurich-Ill. company’s Simplist syringes have a 2-year shelf life and do not require any assembly or point-of […]
