1. The FDA has halted clinical trials of combinations of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo with Celgene’s Revlimid and Pomalyst in patients with multiple myeloma. Researchers spotted a higher risk of death in patients taking this kind of drug combination in a similar trial for Merck’s Keytruda trial two months ago. (Endpoints News)
2. Eli Lilly announced it would cut 3,500 jobs and devote more resources to developing new drugs. (CNBC)
3. Amgen and AstraZeneca’s new experimental asthma drug, tezepelumab, could be the widest-ranging treatment for the respiratory disease to date. Recent data from a Phase-II trial showed it reduced the annual rate of asthma attacks between 61 and 71%. (Reuters)
4. The FDA is recruiting digital-health entrepreneurs for its previously announced digital health action plan. The program is aimed at gathering feedback for the FDA’s pre-certification program. (MedCityNews)
5. AbbVie has more than 100 patents for its autoimmune drug Humira, which has stymied competitors from launching generic versions of the biologic. The blockbuster drug generates $16 billion in revenue per year. (Bloomberg)
