Author: Katrina Megget

2015 is being hailed as the year of the biosimilar. In the initial three months of this year the first monoclonal antibody biosimilars hit the market – Celltrion Healthcare’s Remsima and Hospira’s Inflectra, copycats of Janssen/MSD’s autoimmune blockbuster Remicade (infliximab) – while the USA has celebrated the approval of its first ever biosimilar, Sandoz’ Zarxio, a follow-on of Amgen’s white blood cell stimulator Neupogen (filgrastim). Commentators are singing biosimilars’ praises, claiming we have entered a new, more affordable healthcare era.     

Did you take your medicine today? Simple question, simple answer. Or is it? 

The possibilities for drones are endless. From aerial surveillance in warzones, to the delivery of pizzas, emergency medical supplies for car accidents, or medicines and aid to disaster areas where roads are blocked, these miniature, unmanned helicopters have the potential  to supply high-speed delivery anywhere in the world. Amazon is already looking at the possibility of using drones to deliver packages, while Google is currently testing its drones in the Australian outback. Perhaps not surprisingly, the industry is forecast to be worth $5.4 billion within the next decade. 

The new disclosure rules on payments to doctors have come into force but there are likely to be teething problems as the industry begins to implement the new requirements, an industry expert says.

Access to cancer drugs in Australia is coming to a head after a bitter tit for tat over a pharma push to fast-track oncology treatment.