Commercialization
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George Frey/Reuters
Deep DiveA decade of cancer immunotherapy: Keytruda, Opdivo and the drugs that changed oncology
Over the past 10 years, PD1-blocking medicines have transformed cancer care. But the steady expansion of their use has slowed and, despite much trying, pharmaceutical companies have largely failed to top the drugs’ successes.
By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 10, 2024 -
Getty Images via Getty Images
A new way of determining a drug’s value — with health equity in mind
Quality-adjusted life years are an important tool to frame a drug’s cost effectiveness, but they leave out other determinants of health.
By Michael Gibney • Sept. 10, 2024 -
Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
FDA adcomm reform talks heat up
As the agency considers eliminating adcomm votes from the approval process, members vie to have their voices heard.
By Amy Baxter • Sept. 3, 2024 -
Stock via Getty Images
Is anyone taking the world’s priciest drugs?
A slew of breakthrough gene therapies won FDA approval in recent years — but high price tags haven’t always yielded big returns.
By Meagan Parrish • Aug. 30, 2024 -
Courtesy of BioMarin Pharmaceutical
BioMarin taps Amgen, Roche vets in executive reshuffle
Greg Friberg and James Sabry will take over, respectively, as heads of R&D and business development, less than a year after BioMarin named a new CEO.
By Jacob Bell • Aug. 22, 2024 -
Courtesy of 23andMe
Q&A23andMe inches closer to cancer immunotherapy, guided by its genetic database
Dr. Jennifer Low, head of 23andMe’s therapeutics division, is taking the company into new territory with a potential cancer treatment that targets a unique pathway.
By Michael Gibney • Aug. 20, 2024 -
Stock via Getty Images
M&A is ready to explode, and that’s good news for pharma layoffs
Deals driven by obesity meds are fueling an M&A comeback, driving the industry to take fewer cost-cutting measures.
By Kelly Bilodeau • Aug. 12, 2024 -
Mario Tama / Getty via Getty Images
Market share shakeup: Big Pharma’s bestselling drugs drive industry shifts in 2024’s first half
The top drugs at each of the world’s most valuable pharma companies tell the story of just how much the industry has changed over the course of a few years.
By Michael Gibney • Aug. 8, 2024 -
Permission granted by Moderna
Pfizer, GSK and Moderna execs remain optimistic about RSV vaccines despite CDC blowback
An advisory committee’s age group recommendations look like a major setback, but executives are painting a rosier picture.
By Michael Gibney • Aug. 6, 2024 -
Permission granted by Sanofi
7 years after launch, Sanofi’s Dupixent is set for a megablockbuster run
Dupixent hasn’t generated as much buzz as top-sellers like Keytruda or Ozempic, but the drug is boosting Sanofi’s earnings into the future.
By Michael Gibney • July 30, 2024 -
Stock via Getty Images
Citius’ first FDA decision date is approaching — and its CEO has millions on the line
Citius Pharmaceuticals CEO Leonard Mazur has personally invested $22.5 million into the company, which is fast approaching a potential turning point.
By Amy Baxter • July 26, 2024 -
Courtesy of BMS
BMS’ long-standing leukemia blockbuster stares down its first generic
Patent disputes in the U.S. and abroad have opened the door to new generics ready for launch as soon as September for BMS’ Sprycel.
By Amy Baxter • July 12, 2024 -
Rebecca Pifer/PharmaVoice
As feds crack down on PBMs for drug costs, Big Pharma could lose some of the heat
Drugmakers pointed the finger at PBMs for being the culprit behind rising drug prices in the U.S. for years — now, an ongoing FTC investigation has their back.
By Michael Gibney • July 11, 2024 -
Douglas Cliff via Getty Images
As the GLP-1 market booms, other healthcare companies are cashing in
With more Americans taking obesity medications, adjacent businesses are offering supportive services to offset side effects, collect data and foster new health benefits.
By Amy Baxter • July 10, 2024 -
Permission granted by Eli Lilly
FDA approval is just the beginning. Now Lilly’s Kisunla faces the tough Alzheimer’s market.
Recent history suggests an Alzheimer’s approval doesn’t necessarily translate to market triumph. Perhaps for Eli Lilly’s Kisunla, this time could be different.
By Michael Gibney • July 9, 2024 -
Permission granted by GeoVax
In the rapidly shrinking COVID market, this company still sees opportunity
GeoVax is developing a next-gen COVID vaccine targeting a population that’s so far been elusive: immunocompromised patients.
By Alexandra Pecci • July 3, 2024 -
Permission granted by Geron
After 33 years, Geron’s first approval marks a turn in Nobel-winning science
The decades-long story of how a first-in-class blood cancer treatment went from bench to bedside.
By Alexandra Pecci • June 26, 2024 -
Courtesy of Novo Nordisk
Will the real Ozempic please stand up? Lilly, Novo face uphill counterfeit battle
Weight loss market leaders are warning patients and healthcare providers about the risks associated with knockoff versions of their popular obesity meds — and taking legal action.
By Amy Baxter • June 26, 2024 -
Jens Schluete via Getty Images
Q&ACan Moderna’s COVID-flu combo shot improve flagging vaccination rates?
A COVID and flu duo could ease manufacturing and administration, potentially driving higher vaccination rates, said Moderna’s VP of North American medical affairs.
By Michael Gibney • June 25, 2024 -
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Avoiding the pharma ‘junk pile’ with launch readiness, pipeline rigor and ‘quick kills’
Drug launches have underperformed expectations at a high rate, and pharmas need to get better at thinning the pipeline to make room for the real wins, says a life sciences consultant.
By Michael Gibney • June 18, 2024 -
Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
What’s in a drug name? More than you might think.
From regulatory restrictions to evocative letter strings, branded drug naming is both an art and a science. We break down the process.
By Alexandra Pecci • June 4, 2024 -
Stock via Getty Images
Q&AIn an era of big patent losses, drug launches need years of runway
Jim Lang, CEO of Eversana, explains the shifting commercial environment and how past drug launch failures are informing the future.
By Amy Baxter • June 3, 2024 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Pfizer and Lilly are elbowing into the direct-to-consumer market. Will it work?
Direct-to-consumer platforms offer consumers an online path to sourcing popular medications, but some therapeutic areas may be better suited for the business model.
By Amy Baxter • May 22, 2024 -
Stock via Getty Images
After Vyvanse patent loss, Takeda’s neuroscience division looks to enter a new era
Heather Dean discusses the company’s neuroscience pipeline in epilepsy and narcolepsy and moving from a mass market to a rare disease mentality.
By Alexandra Pecci • May 21, 2024 -
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
As Lilly surges, headwinds against its weight loss drugs are growing
After missing analysts’ earnings expectations for Mounjaro sales in the first quarter due to overwhelming demand, Lilly is also dealing with a legal loss and incoming pricing questions from lawmakers.
By Amy Baxter • May 15, 2024
