Pharmaceutical giant AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) has won U.S. antitrust approval for its purchase of Allergan (NYSE:AGN) for $63 billion in cash and stock. The purchase is seen as a hedge against the impending expiration of U.S. patents on AbbVie’s blockbuster drug, Humira. North Chicago-based AbbVie announced the deal in June 2019, but ran up against U.S. Federal Trade Commission […]
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Rani debuts human trial data for robotic pill tech
Rani Therapeutics this week touted the results of a first-in-human feasibility trial for its swallowable robotic pill, the RaniPill. Rani has developed a capsule that delivers an intestinal injection of medicine without exposing the drugs to digestive enzymes. The RaniPill device travels through the stomach and eventually reaches the intestine, where it injects the drug […]
Pharma stocks fall as Rep. Cummings launches drug pricing investigation
Chairman of the House Oversight Committee Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) launched an investigation today into the drug pricing practices of 12 pharmaceutical companies. A number of companies named in the investigation saw their stock prices fall, including Amgen (NSDQ:AMGN), AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV), AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN), Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO). A hearing is reportedly set for Jan. 29 and will […]
AstraZeneca touts long-term safety, efficacy data for asthma biologic
AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) today touted results from a Phase III extension trial evaluating the long-term safety and efficacy of benralizumab as an add-on maintenance therapy for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. Benralizumab, or Fasenra, is approved as an add-on maintenance treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma in an array of countries, including the U.S., the E.U., and Japan. […]
FDA warns of flesh-eating genital infection linked to diabetes drug
The FDA this week warned of serious flesh-eating bacterial infections, or necrotizing fasciitis, reported by patients taking sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors intended for treating type 2 diabetes. The federal watchdog said that between March 2013 and May 2018, 12 cases of Fournier’s gangrene, a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection of the tissue under the skin […]
Adherium looks to give doctors a window into their patients’ lives
To control an asthma patient’s symptoms, doctors will prescribe an inhaler to stop symptoms from cropping up and a rescue inhaler to be used if patients find themselves in the middle of an asthma attack. “But if your rescue inhaler doesn’t give you the relief that you need, your next recourse is to go to […]
AstraZeneca inks outcomes-based contract with Highmark for COPD, asthma drug
Health insurer Highmark inked an outcomes-based contract with AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) for Symbicort, the pharmaceutical company’s drug designed to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Highmark said its contract with AstraZeneca is one of the first outcomes-based deals involving a respiratory drug and will apply to commercial members of its national and core markets in Pennsylvania, […]
AstraZeneca taps Owlstone’s breath biopsy device to identify asthma, COPD biomarkers
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) inked a deal with Owlstone Medical to use the diagnostics company’s breath biopsy device to identify biomarkers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the companies announced today. Owlstone’s ReCiva breath sampler, which has CE Mark clearance in the E.U., captures volatile organic compounds in a patient’s breath. A VOC profile can […]
AstraZeneca’s once-weekly diabetes drug wins expanded FDA approval
AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) said today that the FDA approved its extended-release formulation of exenatide, Bydureon, for use as an add-on therapy to basal insulin in adults with Type II diabetes. The company’s once-weekly GLP-1 injectable was first approved in the U.S. in 2012. Bydureon’s expanded use is based on data from AstraZeneca’s 28-week Duration-7 trial, the company […]
FDA clears Adherium’s inhaler sensor for OTC sales
The FDA gave Adherium (ASK:ADR) the go-ahead to launch over-the-counter sales of its Smartinhaler sensor for AstraZeneca‘s (NYSE:AZN) Symbicort asthma inhaler, the company touted last week. Adherium’s product installs directly onto a patient’s inhaler to monitor and boost medication adherence. The device records the time and date that a patient uses their inhaler and transmits […]
