Good morning, everyone, and how are you today? A bright, shiny sun is enveloping the Pharmalot campus, and there is more than a slight hint that spring is finally emerging. This a very welcome development and, naturally, calls for a celebratory cup or two of stimulation. Our flavor this morning, by the way, is the venerable Southern Pecan. Of course, we are open to suggestions. Meanwhile, here are a few items of interest to help you along. We hope you conquer the world today and would like to remind you that we are always in the market for juicy tips and secret documents …
The US Department of Veterans Affairs will begin providing hepatitis C treatments to all veterans in its health system who are infected with the virus, regardless of the stage of their disease, The Military Times reports. Approximately 174,000 veterans in the VA health system are believed to have the disease. In fiscal 2016, the VA expects to spend $1 billion for Sovaldi or Harvoni, the Gilead Sciences medications.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals settled a lawsuit with R&O Pharmacy, which was once a part of its specialty pharmacy network, Business Insider says. The drug maker claimed the pharmacy owed it $60 million. Last fall, a short seller alleged Valeant created phantom invoices to book fake revenues and that R&O was part of the scheme after it was purchased by Philidor Rx Services. R&O alleged it was not aware of Philidor’s connection to the drug maker.
Kyle Bass and Erich Spangenberg, who are waging a campaign to challenge pharmaceutical patents, convinced the US Patent and Trademark Office to institute reviews of two more drug patents, Corporate Counsel writes. The latest decisions mean that their Coalition for Affordable Drugs has persuaded the PTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board to hear more than 50 percent of the filed challenges.
A package of US Senate bills designed to spur medical innovation got bogged down in a partisan fight Wednesday over funding for the National Institutes of Health, STAT reports.
A Florida man admitted to conducting insider trading based on a tip from a former Morgan Stanley broker about Gilead Sciences’s planned $11.2 billion purchase of Pharmasset in 2011, Reuters reports.
When Novartis launched its Gleevec cancer medicine in 2001, the list price was $26,400 a year, but today the wholesale price for a year’s supply is more than $120,000, The Washington Post reminds us.
Some new biotechs pays fees ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 consulting firms to help them choose their company name, STAT writes.
Sandoz is consolidating two New York sites that make creams and ointments for its Fougera Pharmaceuticals dermatology subsidiary, InPharma Technologist tells us.
An Indian government committee recommended setting a “cap” on margins for unbranded generic drugs, according to TwoFour Insight.
Indian regulators are testing Johnson & Johnson talcum powder and nine other brands to see if they meet standards after a US jury awarded $72 million to a woman who developed ovarian cancer, The Hindu says.
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