Good morning, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you, courtesy of an unseasonable spot of cool weather for this time of year. Cool breezes are wafting across the Pharmalot campus, which is also benefiting from a warm and shiny sun. Throw in a cup of stimulation and you have a delightful start to the day. On that note, please enjoy the items we have assembled for you. Meanwhile, we should note that we will take a long holiday break, so a colleague will pick up the pace tomorrow. We will, however, return Tuesday. Hope those of you on this side of the pond have a lovely respite yourselves. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine has not disclosed that one of its presidents and members of a panel that was convened to advise on prescribing opioids had recent links to the pharmaceutical industry, BMJ reports. For instance, the quasi-independent organization claimed 15 academics appointed to the panel and who serve pro bono for the 16-month project, are free of conflicts of interest. But seven panelists disclosed ties to the drug or health care industry in recent scholarly work on pain.
In a reversal of fortune, a U.S. judge set aside a jury verdict that found Amgen (AMGN) patents on its Repatha cholesterol drug were valid, handing a victory to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) and Sanofi (SNY), which sell a rival drug called Praluent, Reuters writes. Both drugs lower LDL cholesterol by blocking a protein known as PCSK9. The judge determined some patent claims by Amgen relating to antibodies targeting PCSK9 were invalid because they did not sufficiently disclose the company’s claimed innovations.
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