Alex Gorsky is CEO of Johnson & Johnson.
1. Johnson & Johnson will spend $30 billion to acquire Actelion in a bid to gain access to the Swiss drugmaker’s treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension. As part of the deal, Actelion will spin off its R&D operation and early-stage products into a separate company. (NYT)
2. Pfizer is fighting a decades-old ban that prevents it from comparing Advil to Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol in ads that mention the risks of gastrointestinal damage. The drugmaker argued that the ban shouldn’t apply to pediatric Advil. (Law360)
3. Nearly half of women with early-stage breast cancer have severe or very severe forms of side effects like vomiting and pain, a new study found. (Reuters)
4. A dozen or so physician groups, including the American Medical Association, formed a coalition to improve the process for prior authorization requirements for healthcare providers. The groups drafted 21 principles to reform these processes. (Modern Healthcare)
5. Lundbeck entered into a deal with Ossianix, which is testing shark antibodies for treatments that fight Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions. (Reuters)
