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 […]
Myriad’s breast cancer diagnostic wins approval in Japan
Myriad Genetics (NSDQ:MYGN) subsidiary Myriad Genetics Laboratories said today that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor & Welfare approved its Bracanalysis Diagnostic System to be used with Lynparza – a breast cancer drug marketed by AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) and Merck (NYSE:MRK). Lynparza is a PARP inhibitor designed to target deficiencies in DNA damage response pathways. AstraZeneca and Merck […]
Japan approves Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly Type II diabetes drug
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare gave Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) the green light to market its once-weekly type II diabetes drug, Ozempic, Reuters reported today. The pharma company’s drug, semaglutide, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 analog that mimics an intestinal hormone to trigger insulin production in people with diabetes. Novo Nordisk expects to launch Ozempic in Japan in […]
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