Johnson & Johnson’s Q3 profit narrowly beat analysts’ expectations, thanks to strong sales from its cancer drugs Zytiga and Imbruvica. The company reported net income of $3.9 billion in the period. (CNBC)
Omnicom Group reported Q3 earnings that beat analysts’ expectations. The holding company’s sales were up slightly in the U.S. and increased by more robust margins in the euro zone and Asia-Pacific as it focused more on digital marketing. (Reuters).
Cheaper biosimilars of Humira will soon roll out in Europe, but they might not be available in the U.S. for years to come. To protect its best-selling anti-inflammatory drug, AbbVie has collected patents to block competitors from launching less expensive versions of the drug Stateside. (Wall Street Journal)
In a blow to traditional firms, the number of in-house agencies is on the rise. According to a report from the Association of National Advertisers, nearly 80% of its members have some form of in-house operations, up from 58% and 42% in 2013 and 2008, respectively. (MM&M)
The Trump administration is planning to propose requiring drug companies to disclose the price of prescription medications in direct-to-consumer television ads. “We will not wait for an industry with so many conflicting and perverse incentives to reform itself,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a speech on Monday. The pharma industry’s top lobbying group had pushed back against the proposal, arguing that including list prices would confuse patients and dissuade them from seeking medical care. (Reuters)
