Johnson & Johnson continues to face legal challenges over allegations that its talcum powder causes cancer. Recently, a judge dismissed the company’s latest attempt to settle thousands of lawsuits through bankruptcy, marking the second time J&J’s bankruptcy strategy has been rebuffed. We take a look at the timeline of the talc litigation below. Johnson &…

In a recent move, Astellas Pharma challenges IRA, a step that sees them join other pharmaceutical heavyweights in a lawsuit against the federal government. The bone of contention is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a law primarily designed to drive down prescription drug prices, a proposition that no Republican supported. Astellas, along with the other…

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections like pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants and young children. Traditionally there have been no approved treatments for RSV infections, with care being largely supportive. But the landscape is quickly changing. The FDA recently approved Beyfortus (nirsevimab), the first immunoprophylactic to prevent…

Novartis has agreed to sell ophthalmology assets to Bausch + Lomb for an upfront payment of $1.75 billion, with potential milestone payments of up to $750 million. The total value of the deal could reach $2.5 billion. Novartis expects the deal to improve their focus more on higher-margin drugs. Under the terms of the deal,…

Big Pharma firms Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb are challenging President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, alleging the law’s plan to lower drug prices infringes on their rights. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce — whose members include drugmakers AbbVie and Eli Lilly — is also aiming to block Medicare from rolling out the program. In 2022,…

In a strong move against the federal government, Merck & Co., based in Kenilworth, New Jersey, has launched a lawsuit against the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The firm has retained the services of prominent law firm Jones Day, at times known for its assertive litigation style. In recent years, the firm has also been involved…

Preventing sudden failures and unexpected downtime in life sciences organizations starts with promoting a data-driven culture across the enterprise. Promoting a data-driven culture across the enterprise is what makes today’s most successful life sciences organizations stand out. Efficient operations are only possible when the processes underlying those activities are functional, and this type of reliable…

On October 12, 2022, the FDA confirmed what many patients with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) already knew: There was a shortage of the immediate-release formulation of amphetamine mixed salts commonly known by the brand name Adderall. The implications of this announcement have rippled across the United States, affecting scores of patients reliant on the…

A pair of weight-loss drugs —  semaglutide and tirzapatide — could reshape the way we view and treat obesity, according to a Moody’s report dated May 18. The ratings firm notes that Novo Nordisk could benefit from a first-mover advantage in the obesity market as it now has two novel weight loss drugs on the…

Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma has won FDA approval for Veozah (fezolinetant) 45 mg to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. The non-hormonal menopause treatment represents the first neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist to win FDA backing for vasomotor symptoms, which afflict 60-80% of women during menopause. The approval was based on the BRIGHT SKY…