Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) wrote a letter demanding compliance from Merck and Abbott. The letter demands that Merck and Abbott comply with the Senate Finance Committee’s investigation into the tax practices of Big Pharma. According to a news release from the Senate Finance Committee, the two companies have, to this point, “stonewalled”…
Baxter recall of drug compounding software is Class I
The FDA issued a notice today announcing that the recall of the Baxter Abacus software is Class I, the most serious kind. Baxter designed its Abacus order entry and calculation software to perform calculations for compounding liquid doses of medications. When connected to a compounded that mixes doses according to the calculation, the software can…
Novartis restarts production of radioligand therapy
Novartis announced recently that it has restarted radioligand therapy (RLT) production at two different sites. Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis on June 30 said that it restarted production in “early June” at its Ivrea, Italy, and Millburn, New Jersey, sites, according to a news release. The company had halted production in May due to what it cited…
Fresenius Kabi expands compatibility of its radio frequency tagged medications
Fresenius Kabi announced today that its portfolio of radio frequency tagged medications is now compatible with an AmerisourceBergen offering. Lake Zurich, Illinois-based Fresenius Kabi’s growing +RFID portfolio now has compatibility with AmerisourceBergen’s medication tray solution for helping hospitals improve medication inventory visibility and tracking using advanced radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology. According to a news release,…
Vivera picks up new patent for electronic dose-controlled drug delivery devices
Vivera announced today that it received a third U.S. patent for its Zicoh electronic dose-controlled drug delivery device portfolio. Newport Beach, California-based Vivera’s latest patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) secures Zicoh’s rights as a smart dosing system with automated delivery, measurement, and management for oral format medications, including pills, capsules and…
Entegris opens Life Sciences Technology Center in Massachusetts
Entegris (Nasdaq:ENTG) announced today that it opened a new Life Sciences Technology Center in Billerica, Massachusetts. The new facility was built to offer life sciences customers the opportunity to leverage Entegris’ cold-chain supply expertise to optimize processes, reduce costs and increase speed to market, according to a news release. Entegris’ tools and technologies will be…
Pfizer, BioNTech moving forward on seeking COVID-19 vaccine EUA for youngest children
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech (Nasdaq:BNTX) announced today that data support a three-dose primary series of their COVID-19 vaccine in young children. Topline safety, immunogenicity and vaccine efficacy data from a Phase 2/3 trial in young children evaluating a third 3-µg dose of the vaccine — marketed in the U.S. as Comirnaty — showed a strong…
Pfizer ticks up on Street-beating Q1, lessens full-year guidance
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) shares rose today on first-quarter financial results that came in ahead of the consensus forecast. The New York-based pharmaceutical company posted profits of $7.9 billion, or $1.37 per share, on sales of $25.7 billion for the three months ended April 3, 2022, for a 61.2% bottom-line gain on sales growth of 76.8%. Adjusted…
Johnson & Johnson rises on mixed bag Q1, increased 2022 guidance
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) shares ticked up today on first-quarter results that were mixed compared to the consensus forecast. The New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company posted profits of $5.1 billion, or $1.93 per share, on sales of $23.4 billion in the first quarter for a 16.9% bottom-line slide on sales growth of nearly 5%. Get the…
CMS will limit coverage of Aduhelm to people in clinical trials
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a national policy regarding coverage for Aduhelm (aducanumab). Controversy has surrounded the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm from Biogen (NSDQ:BIIB) and Eisai (TYO:4523) since the FDA’s fast track approval last year. Three members of an FDA advisory committee resigned after the approval. About a week later, nonprofit watchdog group Public Citizen called for high-profile resignations of…