Smooth muscle and vascular endothelial cells induced from pluripotent stem cells could help model rare vascular diseases, according to a study published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine. Vascular diseases are tricky to study because they are hard to model and human tissue samples are scarce. An appropriate model for real blood vessels could enable researchers to […]
Pharmaceutical
Scilex touts head-to-head study of lidocaine pain-relief patch
Sorrento Therapeutics (NSDQ:SRNE) subsidiary Scilex Pharmaceuticals touted data today from a head-to-head clinical adhesion study of its ZTlido lidocaine patch, comparing it to the EU reference product, Versatis. ZTlido is a lidocaine patch in development for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia – a severe neuropathic pain condition that affects elderly people and patients who have […]
Senate drug price hearing turns into debate over healthcare reform
Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee gathered last week to discuss the rising costs of prescription drugs. But the hearing quickly morphed into a heated back-and-forth between senators over the Republican’s efforts to reform healthcare. When you need to get quick access to money, no fee loans are one of the […]
Novartiz unit Sandoz seeks FDA nod for generic Advair Diskus
Novartis (NYSE:NVS) unit Sandoz said today that the FDA has accepted the abbreviated new drug application for its generic version of Advair Diskus. The fluticasone propionate/salmeterol device is designed to treat asthma in patients ages 4 and older, as well as provide maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction and reduce exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive […]
Adamis up, Mylan down on generic EpiPen approval
Shares in Adamis Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:ADMP) soared more than 50% yesterday after it won FDA approval for its generic EpiPen emergency allergy pre-filled syringe, sending shares in competitor Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) down -3%. For years, Mylan has commanded more than 90% of the market for emergency epinephrine injectors. Get the full story at our sister site, Drug Delivery […]
Johnson & Johnson closes $30B Actelion buyout
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) closed its $30 billion buy of Swiss biotech firm Actelion, the company reported today. The US healthcare giant bought Actelion in an all-cash deal for $280 per share. The acquisition is expected to add $1.3 billion in sales for Johnson & Johnson in 2017, according to the company. Get the full […]
Drug delivery devices: Here is West’s plan for success
West Pharmaceutical Services is betting that an embrace of human factors engineering and experiential design will allow its drug delivery devices such as its SmartDose and SelfDose to stand apart from the crowd. People are more likely to take their medications properly if a device is easy to use, Eric Resnick, vice president and chief […]
Lilly wins FDA nod for Humalog pre-filled Junior KwikPen device
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) said today that the FDA approved its Humalog Junior KwikPen for the treatment of diabetes. The device is a pre-filled pen with half-unit dosing capabilities, which Eli Lilly said gives patients access to finer dose adjustment. Get the full story at our sister site, Drug Delivery Business News.
Mallinckrodt responds to probe into pricey injection pain-killer
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:MNK) issued a response today to Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and her probe into the company’s pricing strategies for its injectable pain-killer, Ofirmev. McCaskill wrote to the company at the end of May, suggesting that that the company’s price increases could have cost hospitals millions and may have pushed healthcare practitioners to use cheaper painkillers, including highly […]
Study: PharmaJet’s needle-free injection tech linked to higher workplace flu shot compliance
PharmaJet touted its needle-free injection technology in a study that evaluated the use of its device in company-hosted flu clinics. The report, which was published in ONdrugDelivery, described the experience that patients and healthcare providers had with its Stratis needle-free injection system in influenza clinics hosted by companies including BP Oil, Cargill, Xerox and the Denver International […]
pSivida implant meets primary endpoint in late-stage trial
pSivida (NSDQ:PSDV) touted data from the 2nd Phase III trial of its Durasert 3-year treatment for posterior segment uveitis. The company reported that the trial, which followed patients for 3 years, met its primary endpoint of prevention of recurrence of posterior uveitis at 6 months. In the 153-patient trial, 21.8% of Durasert-treated patients had a […]