Allergan reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and published positive top-line results for its migraine treatment. The company earned $4.33 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter, above Wall Street’s expectations of $4.28 billion and up 12% from last year. It also said its migraine treatment met key goals in the first of two late-stage trials. (CNBC)
Mars, the maker of M&M’s and other popular candies, published its policies on conducting scientific research for the first time. It pledged not to tie financial support to specific outcomes and to disclose sponsorships. “We do not want to be involved in advocacy-led studies that so often, and mostly for the right reasons, have been criticized,” said Matthias Berninger, the company’s VP of public affairs. (Reuters)
White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway has seized control of the Trump administration’s opioid agenda. She’s reportedly barred drug policy experts from policy discussions and is instead relying on political staffers to set initiatives, which includes a “just say no” campaign. (Politico)
Not all flu shots are created equal. There are multiple vaccinations, some of which provide better protection than others. But public guidance is lacking. (Stat)
Ex-Obama administration health official Andy Slavitt has launched United States of Care, a nonpartisan group pushing for policy changes to increase access to affordable care. The nonprofit, which includes hospital executives, former lawmakers, and actors and celebrities such as Mark Cuban, will focus on making changes at the state level. (Bloomberg)
