Generic versions of the Takeda’s (NYSE:TAK) ADHD drug Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) continue to be in short supply as demand for it has surged. Both instant-release and extended-release versions of mixed amphetamine salts have been affected by the shortages. A central supplier of the drug in the U.S., Teva (NYSE:TEVA), says labor shortages related to packaging…
Novartis to spin off Sandoz
Novartis announced today that it intends to separate Sandoz into a new, publicly traded standalone company through a 100% spinoff. The spinoff of the generics and biosimilars division of Novartis aims to maximize shareholder value by creating the top European generics company and a global leader in biosimilars, according to a news release. Such a…
How a virtual assistant can help boost medication adherence
Medication adherence is often low for people who are transitioning out of a hospital setting. Such patients may have received a starter dose during a visit to an emergency room or an overnight hospital stay but fail to pick up medication in a pharmacy after that. “It’s a key pain point. There can be as…
Senate Finance Committee chair says Abbott, Merck aren’t complying
Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) wrote a letter demanding compliance from Merck and Abbott. The letter demands that Merck and Abbott complay 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”…
HHS makes 144,000 more doses of Jynneos monkeypox vaccine available
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has said it would make available an additional 144,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine doses available to states and jurisdictions. Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX:BAVA) is the manufacturer of the vaccine. Jynneos won FDA approval for both smallpox and monkeypox in 2019. There have been approximately 700…
U.S. gears up monkeypox vaccination campaign
Federal officials have announced that the clinics across the country would vaccinate individuals with presumed exposure to the monkeypox virus. Earlier, the U.S. had reserved the vaccine for individuals who had confirmed exposure to the virus. The U.S. has confirmed a preference for the Jynneos vaccine from Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX:BAVA). In May, Bavarian Nordic entered…
Cardinal Health starts Zipline drone deliveries of drugs and medical supplies
Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) today started air delivery of pharmaceutical products and medical supplies via Zipline drone in North Carolina. San Francisco-based Zipline won FAA Part 135 air carrier certification for the long-range flights earlier this month. The company flew its first commercial deliveries on June 22 with an initial 16-nautical-mile flight. The flights starting today…
FDA prevented 317 drug shortages in 2021
FDA worked with pharma companies to avert a record number of drug shortages in 2021 based on a recent report to Congress that tracked data starting in 2012 when the FDA Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) was passed. In 2021, 115 manufacturers notified the FDA of 777 potential drug and biologic shortages. Ultimately, the agency worked to…
Teva and Allergan reportedly agree to pay $5B billion to settle opioid allegations
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA) and AbbVie unit Allergan Plc (NYSE:ABBV) could pay more than $5 billion in total to settle some 3,500 opioid lawsuits, according to Bloomberg. While the two companies are willing to settle the suits in the consolidated case, the deal has not been finalized. The consolidated case is titled In Re National…
Pfizer donates Russian profits to Ukraine
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) announced that it would redirect all profits from its Russian subsidiary to relief efforts in Ukraine. Concluding that pausing shipments of medicines to Russia would be counter to its principles, Pfizer had already decided to offer humanitarian efforts to Ukraine. Pfizer also announced that it would refrain from launching new clinical trials…