A U.S. District Court judge upheld two of Amgen’s patents for the rheumatoid arthritis drug Enbrel, blocking a challenge by Novartis. Enbrel posted sales in the U.S. of $4.8 billion last year. (Reuters) The judge’s decision could put off copycat versions of the drug for another decade. (BioPharmaDive)
The federal government’s deficit grew to $120 billion last month. One reason was higher spending on healthcare, due to a greater number of aging people leaning on Medicare. (Reuters)
GlaxoSmithKline said that U.S. pharmaceuticals president Jack Bailey is stepping down. He’ll be replaced by Maya Martinez-Davis, who is currently regional president for Latin America at Merck KGaA. (Endpoints)
Two experimental treatments are proving successful in treating Ebola patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The therapies saved about 90% of people who were recently infected. The treatments’ effectiveness is raising hopes about turning back the epidemic in eastern Congo. (New York Times)
Experts are fearful that a messy “no deal Brexit” could lead to a shortage of medicines in Europe. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said his country will leave the European Union on October 31 with or without a separation deal. (Reuters)
