Drug sales in 2020 proved more resilient than many experts anticipated in the early days of the pandemic. Still, the impact on many injectable drugs was tangible in the first half of the year as hospitals initially dissuaded patients from seeking in-person treatment. But sales were generally strong for the full year. AbbVie’s injectable biologic […]
AbbVie
NIH launches drug trial for deadly cytokine storm
The National Institutes of Health today launched a Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate three immune modulator drugs in hospitalized adults with COVID-19. Some COVID-19 patients experience an immune response in which the immune system unleashes proteins that trigger inflammation, otherwise known as a cytokine storm, which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple […]
FDA: Thousands of new breast-implant-related illnesses reported
The FDA today reported that it has received nearly 2,500 new reports globally of “breast implant illness” or BII. Reports of new breast implant-related cancer were also up. BII is not cancer, nor is it a term often found in medical literature, the agency said. But it is frequently used by patients and healthcare providers […]
The most innovative pharmaceutical agents of 2020
The Galien Foundation recently announced nominees for most innovative pharmaceutical agents for its 14th Annual Prix Galien USA Awards. The foundation bestows the Prix Galien Award annually to examples of outstanding biomedical, pharmaceutical drugs and medical technology products that are designed to improve the human condition. “As we celebrate 50 years of the Prix Galien process, […]
Allergan, Ideal Implant targets of FDA warning letters
The FDA issued warning letters today to two breast implant manufacturers for failure to comply with regulatory requirements. One letter went to Allergan (now part of AbbVie) for failing to comply with requirements — under two separate premarket approval orders — to conduct post-approval studies to assess the long-term safety and risks of two models of […]
AbbVie gains U.S. nod for $63B Allergan takeover
Pharmaceutical giant AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) has won U.S. antitrust approval for its purchase of Allergan (NYSE:AGN) for $63 billion in cash and stock. The purchase is seen as a hedge against the impending expiration of U.S. patents on AbbVie’s blockbuster drug, Humira. North Chicago-based AbbVie announced the deal in June 2019, but ran up against U.S. […]
Miles White’s fearless strategy for growing Abbott
With strong leadership and a taste for risk-taking, outgoing CEO Miles White left no stone unturned as he grew Abbott into one of the world’s largest medical device companies. Few medical device companies have seen the growth and transformation that Abbott (NYSE:ABT) has seen under the leadership of Miles White. During his two decades as […]
AbbVie to buy Allergan for $6.3B
Pharmaceutical giant AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) said today it will acquire Allergan (NYSE:AGN) for $63 billion in cash and stock. The purchase is seen as a hedge against the impending expiration of U.S. patents on AbbVie’s blockbuster drug, Humira. AbbVie will pay Allergan shareholders $188.24 per share of Allergan stock, a 45% premium to yesterday’s closing price. […]
FDA approves J&J’s Tremfya self-injection pen for psoriasis
FDA has approved Johnson & Johnson’s patient-controlled injector for Tremfya, a treatment for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The self-injection approval may help Tremfya compete with AbbVie’s (NYSE:ABBV) Humira pen, which was previously approved for self-injection by psoriasis patients. Get the full story on our sister site, Drug Delivery Business.
Pharma stocks fall as Rep. Cummings launches drug pricing investigation
Chairman of the House Oversight Committee Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) launched an investigation today into the drug pricing practices of 12 pharmaceutical companies. A number of companies named in the investigation saw their stock prices fall, including Amgen (NSDQ:AMGN), AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV), AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN), Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO). A hearing is reportedly set for Jan. 29 and will include patients affected by rising […]
EU approves fifth biosimilar for blockbuster Humira drug
Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) and Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics said today that the European Commission gave the companies marketing authorization for Hulio, a biosimilar to AbbVie‘s (NYSE:ABBV) billion-dollar Humira product. Mylan said it plans to launch Hulio across particular markets in Europe on or after Oct. 16. The drug is the fifth product authorized by the EC as a biosimilar for […]
