1. Gilead Sciences, which makes blockbuster hepatitis-C treatments Sovaldi and Harvoni, reportedly avoided paying $10 billion in taxes after moving some of its assets to Ireland, which has a lower tax rate than the U.S. (WaPo)
2. Merck said it plans to lay off R&D workers at three sites. The cuts and transfers are expected to affect less than 10% of the “discovery, preclinical, and early development” staff at sites in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. (WSJ)
3. Sage Therapeutics said its experimental therapy to treat the symptoms of severe postpartum depression met the goal of a small Phase II study. About one in seven women experience postpartum depression. (Reuters)
4. Juno Therapeutics said it will resume a trial for its experimental leukemia treatment after two patient deaths prompted an FDA hold, now removed. Juno’s drug, JCAR015, is being tested as a treatment for adult patients with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. (WSJ)
5. Prescription drug costs are the fastest growing category of medical costs, but policymakers lack the regulatory tools to address the increases. (Politico)
