Merck’s Fosamax appeal is going to the Supreme Court. The drugmaker is facing hundreds of lawsuits accusing the company of failing to adequately warn patients of the risks of thigh-bone fractures associated with osteoporosis drug Fosamax. The case will test whether a company can be held responsible for a health risk that the FDA rejected on the labeling. (Reuters)
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has weighed in on Amazon’s acquisition of PillPack. “Disruptive competition is a good thing,” said Gottlieb, who speculated that the move could bring down costs and promote generics. (CNBC)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) is demanding PhRMA and BIO address sexual harassment at their members’ companies. Murray sent letters to the two industry groups in response to an unofficial party during BIO’s conference in Boston that featured topless dancers and company logos painted on women’s bodies. She also called out a lack of diversity and mostly male panels at BIO’s convention this month. (STAT)
Dermira has come back with a new FDA approval after its acne treatment failed in March. The drug, Qbrexza, treats excessive sweating. It will go up against Botox as a sweating treatment when it hits the market in October. (Endpoints News)
Virginia has sued Purdue Pharma over opioids. In the latest state action against the company, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring has claimed Purdue made false claims about opioids. Purdue said in a statement that it has already ended the marketing practices Herring referenced and is working with other states to address the opioid problem. (Associated Press)
