About pharma
GlaxoSmithKline's spinoff plan is here—and it may not be limited to consumer health: ”GlaxoSmithKline made clear it intended to spin off its consumer health joint venture with Pfizer when the partners first unveiled the deal. Now, the British drugmaker has officially started a two-year journey toward that split, which may take prescription dermatology along with it.”
Gilead climbs as coronavirus drug shows efficacy, starts trial: This article is a good case study of a pharma company’s R&D department being insightful and nimble. “Remdesivir was one of a clutch of drugs tested against Ebola, but it failed to match the efficacy of its rivals, leading its development against that virus to come to a halt. However, preclinical tests have suggested the drug is effective against murine hepatitis virus and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, leading Gilead to propose it as an answer to the outbreak that began in Wuhan, China.”
Gilead loses first PrEP patent challenge but vows to defend against HHS lawsuit: This article updates the ongoing battle between Gilead and the federal government over the patent for Truvada as an HIV prophylactic medication.
FDA Revises Policy on Prioritizing Generic Drug Applications:The FDA will no longer prioritize submissions from first filers. But the agency will “prioritize submissions for which final approval depends on the expiration of a patent or NDA exclusivity…[and] if they are related to a drug shortage or public health emergency, or would present significant difficulties for the applicant if delayed.”
About the public’s health
FDA crackdown on vaping flavors has blind spot: disposables: An update on the partial vaping ban- the government forgot something. Yesterday the U.S. government began enforcing restrictions on flavored electronic cigarettes, but forgot to ban cheaper, flavored (such as pink lemonade, blueberry ice and tropical mango), disposable products. So vaping rates may not decrease after all.
About health insurance
House votes to condemn Trump Medicaid block grant policy: “The non-binding resolution won’t have much practical effect. It passed on a mostly party line vote of 224-189 and will almost certainly see no time in the GOP-controlled Senate.”