The international drug industry group, IFPMA, the World Intellectual Property Organization and 20 big pharmas have launched Pat-INFORMED, a new patent database that can be used by governments to improve their medicines procurement programs. The R&D-based industry says it clearly links public patent information to registered medicines in a new, user-friendly online gateway. However, the European generics industry body Medicines For Europe says the move amounts to "patent linkage" and will have anti-competitive effects for generics firms. 

Brazil wants to update its pharmacovigilance rules and bring them into line with international standards.

Approach has been endorsed by Express Scripts as more workable solution than trying to cut list prices for drugs already on the market.

Opiant could get $4.6m to accelerate development of nasal nalmefene for treatment of opioid overdose.

Final review documents have been posted for only four of 12 biosimilars due to a backlog in applications considered the third priority level for redaction – a categorization that seems out of sync with the agency’s approach to labeling and its emphasis on promoting price competition.

Opiant could get $4.6m to accelerate development of nasal nalmefene for treatment of opioid overdose.

The Medicines Company's inclisirin CV trial is 100-fold cheaper with digitized records, while Lilly is still hunting for a good HBA1C dataset, and Merck worries about "idiosyncratic" data.

Novo Nordisk's chief says the Danish company is stockpiling medicines in case of "no deal" hard Brexit

California Insurance Commissioner claims AbbVie gave kickbacks for healthcare providers to prescribe Humira and had nurse 'ambassadors' insert themselves between patients and physicians.

Department of Justice clears insurer Cigna to acquire PBM Express Scripts with no divestitures or other actions required by the two giants; American Antitrust Institute says it will "trigger a fundamental restructuring of the US healthcare system."

Agreement with Focus Laboratories includes all Freshkote formulations in multi-dose bottles and single-unit vials to market and commercialize the line worldwide.

Latest consumer health investment was $36m upgrade to a Canadian facility, which by mid-2019 will begin making Voltaren OTC topical gel products. GSK's next move in consumer health divestment is its pending sale of its Horlicks business.

In its comment on draft guidance, OTC industry trade group urges US FDA to issue final guidance on "Innovative Approaches For Nonprescription Drug Products" in addition to a rule the agency has indicated would soon follow.  CHPA expects that identifying information away not within a Drug Facts label that will be considered in an FDA evaluation would be determined on a case-by-case basis, with a switch NDA sponsor and the agency agreeing to terms of approval during a proposal development and review.