News

Daiichi Sankyo’s once-daily oral factor Xa inhibitor edoxaban is as effective as warfarin with a better safety profile when used for preventing recurrence of acute venous thromboembolism, according to results from the Phase III Hokusai-VTE trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Amsterdam.

Regulators in Europe have approved Sanofi’s multiple sclerosis pill Aubagio.

Australia’s opposition Liberal-National Coalition has pledged that, if it wins next month’s federal election, it will empower the Health Minister to list, on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), recommended medicines that do not cost more than A$20 million in any of their first four years of listing.

Therapeutic drug substitutions have the potential to double or even triple annual cost savings for payers compared with the savings achieved through generic substitutions, say US researchers.

Danish drugmaker Zealand has inked a research pact with drug giant Eli Lilly to develop new drugs for obesity and diabetes.

Novartis unit Alcon’s Jetrea is well on the way to being accepted for use on the National Health Service in England and Wales, giving patients access to the only available therapy for a rare eye condition called vitreomacular traction.

Just 20% of representatives taking part in a recent cross-industry benchmarking competition feel very well informed about the NHS changes, according to a new Sales Insights report from PharmaTimes.

Consolidation in the contract research sector continues apace, with Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) the latest to step up with a deal to buy patient recruitment specialist Acurian.

There was good news for ReNeuron this week as regulators on both sides of the Atlantic awarded its eye disease stem cell therapy orphan drug designation.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a new document consolidating its guidance for institutional review boards (IRBs) as they review the adequacy of biomedical research sites and clinical investigators.

Revenues reported by contract research organisations (CROs) rose more than 10% last year to reach $13.6 billion, driven by greater demand for outsourced clinical services

The new leader of the UK’s over 40,000 GPs has told them he will aim to “forge a renewed relationship with government” to demonstrate how investing in general practice is key to managing escalating pressures in the NHS.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published its first guideline on acute kidney injury (AKI) in the hope of saving thousands of lives as well as a hefty pile of National Health Service cash.

Cost regulators for the NHS in England and Wales have confirmed that patients with advanced breast cancer will not be able to routinely access Novartis’ Afinitor. 

Generic drugmaker Akorn has agreed a $640 million cash deal to acquire Hi-Tech Pharmacal to diversify its pipeline beyond ophthalmic pharmaceuticals.