Top of the morning to you, and a fine one it is. A spot of snow has come and gone, leaving the Pharmalot campus a bit soggy, but things have settled down, especially now that the short people have departed for the day and the official mascot has settled in for a lengthy snooze. As for us, we are, once again, brewing cups of stimulation — we are sticking with hot buttered rum, for those tracking such things — and digging in for another busy session. On that note, here are some items of interest. Hope you have a smashing day and do stay in touch …
Pfizer (PFE) disclosed an increase in pulmonary embolisms and deaths among rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving a twice-daily 10 mg dose of its Xeljanz pill in a post-marketing cardiovascular safety trial. The drug maker is moving study patients to the twice-daily 5 mg dose that is already approved. The move suggests “there is still growing evidence that the class as a whole may be associated with these liabilities,” wrote Leerink analyst Geoffrey Porges. Xeljanz generated nearly $1.8 billion in 2018 sales. The Food and Drug Administration is also conducting a review.
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