Pharmaceuticals

A study of chemotherapy medicines produced by 10 companies found that, on average, each drug produced seven times as much revenue for its manufacturer as it cost in research and development.

R&D Costs For Cancer Drugs Are Likely Much Less Than Industry Claims, Study Finds

4:33pm September 11, 2017

by Richard Harris

Industry says it costs about $2.7 billion to bring a cancer drug to market. But oncologists who ran the numbers put the average closer to $650 million. Drugs are priced way too high, the doctors say.

Sick cows led to the invention of Warfarin.

How Moldy Hay And Sick Cows Led To A Lifesaving Drug

7:06pm August 29, 2017

by Joe Palca

The blood thinner warfarin, which prevents blood clots, owes its existence to some cows who got very sick after eating spoiled hay — and to a chemist who spent years trying to figure out why.

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Judge Lewis Gregory, head of the city court in Greenwood, Ind., began allowing drug court participants to begin taking Vivitrol after meeting with an Alkermes sales representative.

To Grow Market Share, A Drugmaker Pitches Its Product To Judges

4:51pm August 03, 2017

by Jake Harper

The pharmaceutical company Alkermes is trying to increase the number of people taking Vivitrol for their opioid addiction by marketing the drug to judges, who have the power to influence treatment.

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As Cost Of U.S. Health Care Skyrockets, So Does Pay Of Health Care CEOs

9:02am July 27, 2017

Compensation in recent years for the CEOs of the largest U.S. health care companies has far outstripped the wage growth of nearly all Americans, an investigation by the news site Axios has found.

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A new drug to treat multiple sclerosis has proven effective, but there are many things to consider before switching to a new treatment plan.

There's An Amazing New Drug For Multiple Sclerosis. Should I Try It?

11:31am July 14, 2017

by Brandie Jefferson

The innovative drug Ocrevus looks as if it could be a game-changer for people with MS. But it's very, very expensive. And as with any new medication, the long-term safety risks are unknown.

The anti-inflammatory drug Bextra was taken off the market because it increased the risk of heart attack and stroke.

One-Third Of New Drugs Had Safety Problems After FDA Approval

9:16pm May 09, 2017

by Sydney Lupkin

More than 70 drugs approved by the FDA from 2001 to 2010 ran into safety concerns that prompted withdrawals from the market, "black box" warnings or other actions.

Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal deaths around the world.

Overlooked Drug Could Save Thousands Of Moms After Childbirth

12:57pm April 27, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

An inexpensive drug could dramatically reduce the number of deaths of mothers from bleeding after childbirth in low- and middle-income countries around the world.

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An organization campaigning against foreign drug imports has deep connections to the lobbying group PhRMA, which includes Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Bayer.

Nonprofit Working To Block Drug Imports Has Ties To Pharma Lobby

5:00am April 18, 2017

An organization campaigning against foreign drug imports has deep connections to the lobbying group PhRMA, which includes Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Bayer, an analysis by Kaiser Health News reveals.

Using surrogate endpoints can speed up testing of new drugs, but doesn't always find out if they actually help patients.

Taking Shortcuts In Drug Testing Can Put Patients At Risk

2:36pm April 04, 2017

Researchers use intermediate endpoints like how a drug lowers cholesterol to get a quick sense of whether the drug might improve health. But those shortcuts often don't show true benefits and harms.

Scott Gottlieb, FDA deputy commissioner for policy, speaks to reporters at the Reuters Health summit in New York in 2005.

Trump Chooses Dr. Scott Gottlieb To Head Food And Drug Administration

8:14pm March 10, 2017

by Joe Neel

Gottlieb is seen as a mainstream pick for an agency that oversees a quarter of the U.S. economy, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food, cosmetics and other areas of human and animal health.