1. A judge ordered Sanofi and Regeneron to stop marketing Praluent for 12 years. The decision came after Amgen, which markets a competing PCSK9 inhibitor, Repatha, sued, claiming that Praluent infringes on Repatha’s patents. Both drugs were approved in mid-2015. (Bloomberg)
2. An analysis of a clinical trial conducted in the 1970s for Diclegis, which is now marketed by Duchesnay and is the only FDA-approved drug for morning sickness, had a number of inconsistencies. The authors of the analysis said that the FDA should revisit the approval based on this news. (Stat, via Scientific American)
3. Cancer drugs are expected to comprise a larger portion of total global pharmaceutical spending this year, as prices for new drugs hit $200,000 per year. (Bloomberg)
4. A new study revealed that the testing of HbA1c and fasting glucose levels is not specific or sensitive enough to detect pre-diabetes, which raises questions about the screening of individuals at risk for pre-diabetes. (BMJ)
5. Bristol-Myers Squibb announced a collaboration with GeneCentric Diagnostics to conduct biomarker research for Opdivo, its immuno-oncology therapy.
