When Al Robichaud got his start as a medicinal chemist in 1991, he knew that discovering and developing drugs meant shouldering some level of risk. But around 2011, it became clear that the process for developing brain drugs was too costly and risky for major pharmaceutical companies to justify pursuing, as companies including Novartis (NYSE:NVS), GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK), […]
Pharmaceuticals
Novartis to spin out Alcon ophthalmic subsidiary
Novartis (NYSE:NVS) said today that it’s planning to spin its Alcon ophthalmology subsidiary into a publicly traded company after years of speculation that it wanted to sell the ill-starred division. The Swiss pharma giant said it intends to hold on to Alcon’s $4.6 billion ophthalmic pharmaceuticals business under the Novartis Innovative Medicines umbrella, continuing a […]
Medtronic launches outcomes-based reimbursement program for MiniMed 670G system
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) today launched an outcomes-based reimbursement program for its MiniMed 670G automated insulin delivery system. As part of its ‘MiniMed 670G Performance Guarantee Program,’ the medtech giant will dole out flat-fee reimbursements of up to $25,000 per pump over four years for diabetes-related inpatient hospitalization and ER admissions. Medtronic said the program offers the company […]
Study: Heat-stable drug formulation offers new option to prevent postpartum bleeding
Data from a collaboration between Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Merck (NYSE:MRK) and the World Health Organization showed that a heat-stable formulation of carbetocin is as effective as oxytocin for the prevention of excessive bleeding following vaginal birth. Millions of women are affected by postpartum hemorrhage every year, according to Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Traditionally, women are given oxytocin to prevent […]
Eli Lilly touts data for concentrated insulin delivered via Insulet’s Omnipod tech
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) touted data this week from a Phase III study evaluating its Humulin R U-500 concentrated insulin delivered via Insulet‘s (NSDQ:PODD) investigational Omnipod U-500 device. The company reported that people with Type II diabetes taking Humulin R U-500 using the Omnipod device experienced greater A1c reductions and needed less daily insulin compared to adults […]
Sensile Medical partners with Verily, Sanofi to develop connected insulin patch pump
Swiss medical device-maker Sensile Medical announced this week that it struck a deal with Verily and Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) to develop and commercialize a connected insulin patch pump. The pre-filled insulin patch pump will be designed primarily for people with Type II diabetes, according to the Olten, Switzerland-based company. Each company brings its own unique strength to […]
Enteris BioPharma touts more Phase II data for oral endometriosis therapy
Enteris BioPharma this week touted positive results from the final treatment arm of a Phase IIa trial of Ovarest, the company’s oral formulation of leuprolide. The drug is designed as an alternative to the injectable therapies available for people with endometriosis. Data from the last treatment arm of Enteris’ Phase IIa trial showed that the optimized […]
Closed-loop insulin delivery systems shine at annual diabetes meeting
As device-makers, healthcare practitioners and people with diabetes convened at this year’s annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association, one major theme emerged: the industry is catching on to the potential of closed-loop insulin delivery systems. Major medical technology companies, including Medtronic and Insulet, touted data at this year’s meeting demonstrating the benefits of their […]
Valeritas touts positive results for V-Go wearable insulin delivery device
Valeritas (NSDQ:VLRX) shares jumped this morning after the company touted positive results from its Enable study, showing that patients who switched from insulin pens and syringes to the company’s wearable V-Go insulin delivery device experienced improved blood glucose levels and lowered their daily insulin dose. The company presented three posters at this year’s meeting of the […]
Sunovion looks to molecular clues, patient preferences to inform drug development
From discovery to commercial launch, drug development often takes years. New tools available to the industry, like the use of biomarkers and patient-reported outcomes, promise to help inform and speed up the process. “Being able to pick out the appropriate patients using the appropriate biomarkers and establishing a relationship between on-target pharmacology and any safety […]