Thousands more patients stand to benefit from an innovative treatment for brain tumours, after NHS England moved to increase access to specialist stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy across the country.
News
Sandoz to launch five major biosimilars by 2020
Novartis unit Sandoz has unveiled plans to launch five biosimilars of major oncology and immunology biologics across key global markets by 2020, potentially broadening access to treatment.
NHS to offer patients free devices and apps
NHS England has announced plans for a new “explicit national reimbursement route” for med tech innovations, under which patients will get free access to devices and apps.
UK pharma contributes £1.3bn to NHS meds bill
The UK pharmaceutical industry has now contributed £1.3 billion to underwrite growth in the NHS medicines bill, but overall spend remains flat.
NICE rushes through BMS’ skin cancer combo
Cost regulators for the NHS in England and Wales are endorsing use of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s immunotherapy combo Opdivo/Yervoy to treat patients with advanced melanoma.
Vertex’ CF drug Orkambi turned down for NHS use
Patients with cystic fibrosis will not be getting access to Vertex’ Orkambi on the NHS in England Wales, after NICE stuck with its prior conclusion that the drug does not offer value for money.
Data back Merck’s Keytruda for first-line NSCLC
Merck’s Keytruda has hit targets in a Phase III trial investigating its safety and efficacy in patients with previously untreated lung cancer, backing its use in the first-line treatment setting.
AZ and MRC Tech form respiratory disease pact
Medical research charity MRC Technology and AstraZeneca are partnering to launch an initiative to find new epigenetic drug targets in respiratory disease.
Marketer of the Year – testing capabilities and stimulating professional growth
PharmaTimes Media invites marketers and teams to enter its prestigious Marketer of the Year competition, designed to benchmark talent within your organisation and across our industry.
BMJ stands with the EU remain campaign
With just days to go until the UK’s landmark vote on whether or not to stay in the European Union, the British Medical Journal has taken the rather unusual step of taking sides in the debate, voicing strong support for the Remain campaign.
NHS diabetes prevention sites ready for referrals
The first sites to take part in the national diabetes prevention programme are gearing up to start taking referrals within a few weeks.
Roche’s Gazyvaro cleared in EU for follicular lymphoma
Roche has won European approval for cancer drug Gazyvaro as a treatment for some patients with previously treated follicular lymphoma, the most common type of indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
NICE rejects Roche’s Cotellic for melanoma
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is not backing National Health Service use of Roche’s Cotellic/Zelboraf as a treatment for melanoma.
Novo’s Tresiba beats Sanofi’s Lantus on reducing hypoglycaemia
Novo Nordisk has showcased new data from two Phase IIIb trials showing that diabetes patients treated with Tresiba experienced significantly lower rates of several types of hypoglycaemia than those using Sanofi’s Lantus.
Shire buys Pfizer’s investigational IBD biologic
Shire is buying global rights to Pfizer’s investigational biologic PF-00547659 for inflammatory bowel disease.
