Drug and medical device company payments to doctors and hospitals for non-research related activities dropped for the first time in 2020 since CMS’s Open Payments database began collecting the information. 

AstraZeneca is discontinuing a Phase III trial of the long-acting complement inhibitor it gained via its Alexion acquisition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis because of lack of efficacy in an interim analysis. Interest is now turning to antisense and cell therapy candidates from other companies that are in late-stage development for the condition.

The oral CGRP inhibitor for migraine generated solid second quarter results as the company expanded to the prevention setting. Several new potential growth drivers are moving through the pipeline.

CEO Vlad Coric said the customizable use of Nurtec ODT to stop and prevent migraine attacks is a differentiating factor that will help it go up against big pharma competitors.