1. President’s Trump’s vow for speeding up the FDA approval process would put patients at risk, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization and executives from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies told Reuters. (Reuters)
2. Merck plans to halt a study of its experimental Alzheimer’s disease drug verubecestat, which is being tested to treat mild-to-moderate forms of the disease. An independent panel of experts concluded that there was “virtually no chance of finding a positive clinical effect.” (Bloomberg)
3. Amgen applied for FDA approval to market Blincyto to treat relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. (RareDR)
4. The Generic Pharmaceutical Association, which represents generic and biosimilar drug companies, has rebranded as the Association for Accessible Medicines. It launched a new campaign that seeks to convey its mission of making drugs more accessible.
5. Humana will withdraw from the health exchange markets, therefore ending the sales of individual coverage in 2018. It is the first major insurer to quit the exchanges. (Politico)