Experts have criticized Juul’s campaign touting its product as an alternative to cigarettes. The vape company’s latest push is focused on middle-aged smokers trying to quit, claiming Juul is a stop-smoking aid. However, anti-smoking experts have called on the Food and Drug Administration to investigate the campaign for making unproven claims about its product. (Associated Press)
Novartis is buying a dry-eye drug from Takeda in a deal worth up to $5.3 billion. The acquisition of Xiidra will cost Novartis $3.4 billion up front with later payments reaching as much as $1.9 billion. Novartis, which has a large eyecare unit, wants to add a potential blockbuster to its portfolio. (Reuters)
Five pharma companies have the most at stake when the rule requiring list prices in TV ads goes into effect. TV’s biggest pharma advertisers stand to be affected the most by the rule, putting a spotlight on Pfizer, AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Amgen and Allergan. (STAT)
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo has failed a late-stage brain cancer trial. The immunotherapy failed to extend survival when up against traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the phase 3 trial. (Reuters)
President Donald Trump is pushing for legislation to end surprise medical bills. “We’re going to hold insurance companies and hospitals accountable” for the bills, he said. The administration is asking Congress for legislation to prevent patients from being charged an out-of-network rate when they have no choice, especially for emergency care. (CNBC)
