Biogen has launched Flixabi – a biosimilar of Johnson & Johnson’s blockbuster infliximab – across the UK for use in a range of chronic inflammatory conditions.
News
Gov’t unveils plans for online triage service
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has unveiled plans for a new one-stop-shop NHS website that will allow patients to seek help for less serious health problems online, as part of a package of measures designed to improve digital services.
EU clears BMS’ Orencia for methotrexate-naive RA patients
The European Commission has expanded the approved indications for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s biologic Orencia, now allowing its use in patients with highly active and progressive rheumatoid arthritis who have not been previously treated with methotrexate.
GSK/Innoviva’s triple therapy hits targets in COPD trial
GlaxoSmithKline and Innoviva’s three-drug inhaler fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) has come out on top in a trial assessing its effectiveness against the dual therapy Symbicort Turbohaler in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).
BMA suspends September strike action
The British Medical Association has called off this month’s planned five-day strike by junior doctors after NHS chiefs warned the service does not have enough time to prepare for it.
NICE rejects Roche’s melanoma combo
Patients in England and Wales with a certain type of advanced skin cancer will not be getting routine access to Roche’s Cotellic/Zelboraf combination on the NHS, after it was turned down by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Real world data back efficacy of GSK’s Bexsero
GlaxoSmithKline is reporting encouraging rates of efficacy from the world’s first national meningitis B immunisation programme with Bexsero, a year after its UK launch.
Pharmacy funding cuts put on hold
The government has pushed the pause button on plans to implement a 6 percent cut to community pharmacy funding from October.
Councils call for green prescribing to tackle obesity
Local councils want doctors to prescribe outdoor exercise to patients in a bid to encourage physical activity and fight the rising swell of obesity across the country.
Merck dumps osteoporosis drug on stroke risk
Merck & Co has now pulled the plug on its troubled late-stage osteoporosis candidate odanacatib after concluding that the drug’s benefit does not outweigh its risks.
Europe expands use of diabetes drug Xultophy
The European Commission has approved the expanded use of Novo Nordisk’s once-daily jab Xultophy in adults with type II diabetes and moderate renal impairment.
AZ asthma biologic cuts exacerbations, improves symptoms
The Lancet has published data from two trials of AstraZeneca’s biologic benralizumab showing that the drug significantly reduced exacerbations and improved lung function and symptoms in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.
GSK’s Relvar Ellipta shows benefit for COPD patients
Further results from the UK Salford Lung Study have been unveiled showing that GlaxoSmithKline’s Relvar Ellipta is better than the standard of care in reducing exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
GMC says scale of junior doctors’ strike ‘unjustified’
Junior doctors are putting themselves at risk from action by the General Medical Council if patients come to harm as a direct result of the planned stream of strikes recently announced by the British Medical Association, the regulator has warned.
Roche rejoins APBI
Swiss drugs giant Roche is rejoining the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry after cutting ties with the trade body seven years ago.
