Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope the weekend respite was relaxing and invigorating because the time has come, once again, to greet the to-do list of meetings, deadlines, and whatnot. There is only one way to cope with this — a few cups of stimulation, and we invite you to join us. We are indulging in Pumpkin Spice, for those keeping track. As always, here are a few tidbits to help you along. Hope you have a smashing day and do keep us in mind if you hear something interesting. We also accept secret documents …
Drug shortages are the “new normal” as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists lists inadequate supplies of more than 150 treatments due to manufacturing problems, regulatory crackdowns on safety issues, and drug makers abandoning low-margin meds, The New York Times writes. Not surprisingly, the shortages are causing rationing, but the effect has largely been hidden from public view.
Bristol-Myers Squibb chief executive Giovanni Caforio defended the company’s first TV campaign for its Opdivo cancer drug after analysts questioned whether the ads are useful, Medical Marketing & Media says. Prescriptions and sales of such drugs are expected to grow whether or not the company promoted the drug to patients. Caforio believes the ads are warranted due to a “long history of treatments that have not delivered significant value to patients with lung cancer.”
The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index lost 21 percent in January, which was the third-worst monthly performance in its history, according to TheStreet, which notes just eight stocks closed higher than where they finished 2015.
Hillary Clinton has a plan to lower prescription drug costs, and, in part, this relies on generics, but this may raise a problem if the cost of some generics continues to rise, Bloomberg News writes.
House Oversight and Government Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz expects Martin Shkreli to testify at a Thursday hearing on prescription drug prices, according to The Hill.
A recent batch of warning letters issued to Chinese ingredients and finished formulation makers reflects increased regulatory oversight, a Food and Drug Administration spokesman tells InPharma Technologist.
An experimental Allergan drug that is being developed for adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder was given breakthrough therapy status by US regulators, Pharma Times writes.
Sanofi signed a memorandum of cooperation with Iran during a visit that President Hassan Rouhani made to Paris, according to Reuters.
A high-level task force asked the Indian government to provide incentives on infrastructure to boost domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the country, PharmaBiz says.
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