1. Generic drugmakers such as Impax Laboratories, Perrigo, Alvogen, and Mallinckrodt are reportedly exploring deals to protect themselves against the FDA’s plans to lower drug prices by increasing the number of approvals. (Reuters)
2. GlaxoSmithKline plans to end more than 30 clinical and pre-clinical programs and divest around 130 older drugs, as part its aim to refocus its R&D on respiratory, HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases, oncology, and immune-inflammation. (Reuters)
3. Merck will pay AstraZeneca up to $8.5 billion to test a combination of AZ’s ovarian cancer drug Lynparza and Merck’s Imfinzi, Keytruda, and PD-L1 and PD-1 medicines, as well as AZ’s experimental MEK inhibitor selumetinib for different types of cancer cancer. (PharmaTimes)
4. Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks told investors he expects President Trump to sign an executive order aimed at lowering drug prices this year. (CNBC)
5. Low-income patients with diabetes who had high-deductible insurance experienced increased financial burden from delayed doctor’s visits for skin infections and pneumonia, a study found. (California Healthline)
