Learn how digital tech is accelerating medical breakthroughs by registering your team to attend Xcelerating Life Sciences Boston: Biopharma’s Future in Digital Health. While some content focuses on the Boston ecosystem, we’re confident the forum – and virtual networking – will be valuable to a national audience. The May 13, 2020 event will explore the […]

Trovagene (NASDAQ: TROV), which started out as a diagnostics company, has renamed itself Cardiff Oncology to better reflect its focus on the cancer drug it is advancing in three clinical trials. In 2017 the San Diego area-based biotech made the first step in its transformation into a drug development-focused organization, licensing rights to an investigational […]

Ayala Pharmaceuticals has two clinical-stage cancer drugs licensed from Bristol Myers Squibb. Now it has $55 million to take those drugs further than the pharmaceutical giant did. On Thursday evening, Ayala priced its IPO, which consisted of 3.7 million shares sold for $15 each. That price was the midpoint of the targeted $14 to $16 […]

Alexion Pharmaceuticals CEO Ludwig Hantson has made no secret that he wants to diversify his company’s drug portfolio and he has shown willingness to open the corporate checkbook to accomplish that goal. Last October, Alexion (NASDAQ: ALXN) struck a $930 million deal to acquire Achillion Pharmaceuticals, a biotech whose lead drug complements the Boston company’s […]

British multinational GlaxoSmithKline have hired computational drug design expert Dr Kim Branson as the company’s new Senior Vice President, Global Head of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

In his new role, the biotech veteran will oversee projects which use AI to identify novel targets for potential medicines.

Dr Branson brings to the role more than 15 years’ worth of experience in biotech and academia having held positions at a number of Silicon Valley firms including Gliimpse, Lumia and Hessian Informatics.

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Massachusetts-based biotech Disarm Therapeutics has hired Dr Alvin Shih as their new President and CEO.

The Cambridge, Mass.-based firm has set itself the task of creating a new class of disease-modifying therapeutics for patients with axonal degeneration, a central drive of neurological disease.

Dr Shih brings to the role a range of experiences. Having graduated with a biology degree from Vanderbilt University in 1996, Shih joined management consultancy McKinsey where he worked as a business analyst for two years.

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AbbVie’s former Vice President of Oncology has moved to Ayala Pharmaceuticals to work as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). 

Israel-based startup Ayala Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing targeted cancer therapies for people living with genetically defined cancers – it is currently working on the development of its pan-Notch inhibitor AL101, currently in Phase 2 in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC).

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Cerevel Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company dedicated to treating neurological diseases, has appointed renowned biotechnology leader Tony Coles as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

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Destiny Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel antimicrobial drugs to address the global crisis caused by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), has announced that after 18 years on the board, Joe Eagle is to step down with immediate effect.

Eagle has been instrumental in the financing and strategic direction of Destiny as a private company and brought his expertise for its lead candidate, XF-73 for the prevention of post-surgical infections. A search for a replacement is underway.

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Biogen have announced updates to it senior leadership team with Alfred Sandrock being named Executive Vice President of Research and Development in addition to his responsibilities as Chief Medical Officer. Additionally Alphonse Galdes has been appointed as Executive Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology.

In a statement, Michel Vounatsos, Chief Executive Officer at Biogen, said: “Both AI and Alphonse are seasoned and respected leaders at Biogen. Their accomplishment in the scientific community is well-recognised.

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Eli Lilly veteran Enrique Conterno has been revealed as the new Chief Executive Officer of FibroGen following the unexpected death of its previous long-term Chief Thomas Neff in August last year.

Neff passing took the company off-guard, bringing a sad and abrupt end to his 26 years of service. In the wake of the loss, FibroGen appointed Board member James Schoeneck to lead the company until a permanent replacement could be found.

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Saniona has announced that Rami Levin will take over as the Chief Executive Officer of the company as it seeks to transition into a fully-fledge biopharmaceuticals company, with a focus on rare diseases.

Levin was appointed by the Board of Directors and the company’s founders. His appointment takes immediate effect.

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Galecto has announced Bertil Lindmark as their new Chief Medical Officer. He began his posting on 1 February 2020.

Lindmark joins from the eTheRNA immunotherapies, which is a Belgian mRNA immunotherapy company. He has also had an extensive and successful career in the pharmaceutical industry.

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Neuronetics, Inc and Chris Thatcher, the President and CEO, have mutually agreed that he will step down from his positions in the company. He will provide transition services and advice to the company until 1 May 2020.

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Andreas Johannesson has been announced as Alligator Bioscience’s new interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO), replacing ex-CFO Per-Olof Schrewelius who it was previously confirmed will no longer serve the company.

Johannesson’s career has spanned 15 years in the consumer goods sector, with him managing the finances of firms including TeamOlmed, Stenqvist, Fitness23Seven and Haldex.

He spent a further nine years of his career as a strategic consultant with a focus on consumer goods, five of which were spent at global consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

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Data science firm Genomics Plc, which lays claim to “the world’s largest genomic database”, has welcomed Mitchell Harris to the company and its senior leadership team as its Chief Strategy Officer.

Joining from his previous role as Global Head, Emerging Business Lines at Abcam, Harris’ career has given him ample experience in commercial strategy and operations. Prior to his most recent role at Abcam, he acted as the company’s Head of Proteins Portfolio Commercial and Business Development.

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Genmab has announced the establishment of the new position of Chief Operating Officer at the company, and has furthermore named Anthony Mancini to the post. In this new role, he will oversee the company’s commercial strategies, including corporate development, business development and information technology functions

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The Chief Executive Officer of Immuron, Gary S. Jacob, has resigned as CEO and as a member of the Board due to restructering taking place to prepare the company for a post-coronavirus world.

In a statement, the company said it was the first move to help the “preservation of capital to allow the company to weather the current trading conditions pending strengthening of the travel market. This will involve radical cost-cutting and deferring certain research and development activities.”

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Dr Lisa von Moltke has left Aklermes and has joined Seres Therapeutics as its new Chief Medical Officer.

Chief Executive Officer at Seres, Eric Shaff, said Seres will benefit from von Moltke’s “extensive experience directing successful development programs, leading clinical teams, and interacting with regulatory agencies across multiple areas of medicine.”

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These policies restricting abortion are unlikely to conserve PPE, and more importantly, they mischaracterize the nature and importance of abortions.

The post The Harms of Abortion Restrictions During the COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on Bill of Health.

Immigrant communities, along with communities of color and people experiencing existing health inequities, are expected to face disproportionate effects.

The post COVID-19 is a Perfect Storm of Hardship for US Immigrant Communities appeared first on Bill of Health.

Clinicians and policymakers alike are raising the alarm about potential legal liability for following crisis standards of care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The post How States are Protecting Health Care Providers from Legal Liability in the COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on Bill of Health.

The question must be: can we accommodate non-emergent/non-urgent care safely or not, and if yes, which care do we address first as we re-open?

The post When and How to Resume Non-Urgent Care During COVID-19 appeared first on Bill of Health.

In this video explainer, Christopher Robertson discusses the Right to Try Act and off-label use of pharmaceuticals with Alison Bateman-House.

The post Access to Drugs Before FDA Approval: Video Explainer with Christopher Robertson appeared first on Bill of Health.

If we’re going to have a central database of conflict of interest disclosures in medicine – and there is one, created by law – it’s high time that people start using it.

Mass shooters appear to injure and kill more people when the use semiautomatic rifles instead of handguns, other types of rifles, or shotguns, according to a new analysis in the Journal of The American Medical Association. But the research has significant limitations.

Past experience says that when the FDA has the will to use its regulatory power, it can shake whole industries. Companies like Juul should tread extremely carefully.

“John, I’m very aware of your family’s journey, Twelve years ago I was one of the producers considering bidding on your life rights.”

The pharmaceutical analysis firm is continuing its contract analytical laboratory services running, with changes designed to keep people and products safe.

The companyâs SiteVault Free tool, designed to enable collaborating between sites and study monitors, now has a remote monitoring feature.

CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, has released a dataset of chemical compounds with known or potential antiviral capabilities.

The pharmaceutical firm has purchased the company, which specializes in advancing treatments and diagnostics for ocular disorders.

The partnership will focus on generating novel small-molecule inhibitors against specific DUB targets for treatment of a range of diseases.

The group will work to rapidly develop guidance on standardizing COVID-19 research data, with the help of several participating member companies.

Led by Medable, the multi-company effort is geared toward ramping up development of treatments, diagnostics and other solutions for the pandemic-causing virus.

The launch of the renamed, newly independent company follows its acquisition by Altaris Capital Partners.

The technology enables sponsors to continue gathering cardiac data for clinical trials without interruption or risk to patient safety.

The institutional review board and research technology solutions provider has acquired IRBco to expand its reach and presence in North America.

The research collaboration will seek to identify candidate biomarkers for a group of inflammatory conditions, using AI and other advanced technology.

I am pleased to announce our new 2020 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers, available for purchase and immediate download.

• Click here to download a free report overview (including the Table of Contents and a List of Exhibits)

• Pharmacy Industry Revenues Hit Record High—Amid Profit Pressures and Amazon Threat, Says New Drug Channels Institute Study (press release)

We’re offering special discounted pricing if you order before March 22, 2020.

The 2020 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers is a truly unique resource. With 203 proprietary charts, exhibits, and data tables, this 11th edition provides a comprehensive, fact-based, and non-partisan tool for understanding the entire U.S. drug pricing, reimbursement, and dispensing system.

The full document clocks in at 374 pages. I can safely say there is nothing else available that comes close to this report.

The chart below illustrates the depth and breadth of the 2020 edition. The numbers indicate the report chapter that corresponds to, explains, and analyzes each channel flow.


Below, you can read more info and some behind-the-scenes tidbits.

P.S. If you would like to pay by corporate purchase order or check, please email Tamra Feldman. If you preordered the report, you should have already received an email with download instructions. Please contact us if you did not receive the email.
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RESCHEDULED: This event has been rescheduled for November 11-13, 2020. Click here to learn more.

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Informa Connect-CBI’s Patient Support Services Congress
June 16-18, 2020 | The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village | Princeton, NJ
www.informaconnect.com/patient-support-services-congress

Informa Connect-CBI’s Patient Support Services Congress is a comprehensive meeting for insightful and engaging dialogue around navigating compliance hurdles while strengthening and innovating patient-oriented programs.

Visit www.informaconnect.com/patient-support-services-congress for more information. Drug Channels readers will save $500 off the standard registration rate when they use code BNP667*.

Download the agenda here and see in-depth coverage on industry trends and next-generation patient services, such as:

• Critical Regulatory Updates and Effective Strategies for Monitoring & Oversight
• Novel Approaches to Services, Program Architecture and Operational Management
• The pros and cons of different support service models
• Measuring the Success of Patient Support Programs
• Innovation, AI, Changing Distribution Models and Market Mergers
• Transparency with Charitable Organizations

Create Your Own Customized Learning Experience for 2020!

Choose from Two In-Depth Tracks

• Legal and Compliance
• Innovation and Operations

Plus! Four Tailored Summits

• Summit A: Patient Adherence – Educate, Engage and Collaborate to Enhance Outcomes
• Summit B: Case Management for Novel and Innovative Therapies
• Summit C: Strategic Planning for Product Launch
• Summit D: Primer Course for Partnering with Patients

Leading Perspectives from Industry Trendsetters:

• Robert Britting, Director, Patient Services and Strategic Solutions, Teva Pharmaceuticals
• Stella Vnook, Chief Executive Officer, Diverse Biotech
• Katherine Chaurette, Vice President healthcare Law and Compliance, Blueprint Medicines
• Kimberly Goldberg, Director, U.S Data Privacy Counsel, Novartis
• Imtiaz Hussain, Senior Director, Patient Services, Bayer
• Cory Potomis, Associate Director, Ethics & Compliance Operations, Novo Nordisk, Inc.
• And so many more!

Visit www.informaconnect.com/patient-support-services-congress for more information. Drug Channels readers will save $500 off the standard registration rate when they use code BNP667*.

*Offer applies to standard rates only and may not be combined with other offers, category rates, promotions or applied to an existing registration. Offer not valid on workshop only or academic/non-profit registrations.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

Informa Connect-CBI’s 22nd Annual Medicaid and Government Pricing Congress
May 19-21, 2020 | Orlando, FL
www.cbinet.com/medicaidandgovernment

Exclusive Offer: Register by April 10th and save $500* (mention promo code MDCDC5).

With a volatile healthcare system combined with an election year upon us, the stakes are incredibly high for life sciences manufacturers. Staying on the pulse of industry trends, policies and regulations has never been more critical. The 22nd Annual Medicaid and Government Pricing Congress delivers critical updates and industry best practices to effectively contract, report and comply with state and federal healthcare programs. Gain timely, up-to-the-minute insights on:

• State Invoicing and Disputes
• GTN Models
• Innovative Contracting Strategies
• State Price Transparency and Reporting Requirements
• 340B Oversight and Compliance
• Preparing, Negotiating and Implementing FSS Contracts
• Bona Fide Service Fees and FMV
• And many other critical topics

Download the complete program agenda.

The 2020 agenda features 75+ speakers and 50+ sessions customizable by company type and size, as well as 10 hours of dedicated networking. Bio/pharma, regulatory and government experts representing HHS, Pfizer, Daiichi Sankyo, Sobi, Maryland Department of Health, BMS, Jazz, Novartis, Amneal, J&J, Sunovion, Gilead, VA, Granard, Insmed, UCB, Alnylam, Louisiana Department of Health, AstraZeneca, CMS, CSL Behring, Astellas, Lilly, Oklahoma Healthcare Authority, Theravance, Indivior, Sandoz, Alvogen, Takeda, OIG, AMAG, Aimmune, Exelixis, South Dakota Department of Healthcare Services, Regeneron, Sun Pharma, Teva and many others are set to drive the dynamic dialogue.

Drug Channels readers can register today and use promo code MDCDC5 to save $500.

*Discount offer valid through 4/10/2020; applies to standard rates only and may not be combined with other offers, categories, promotions or applied to an existing registration. Offer not valid on workshop-only or non-profit registrations.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

I hope you are staying healthy and are managing to navigate your work-at-home mandates.

Last week, I tapped the collective insights of the Drug Channels’ audience. Nearly 700 readers shared their perspectives and projections for how the coronavirus pandemic could ultimately affect behavior, policy, and industry structure. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond.

I will share the results over three articles this week:

• Today, in Part 1, I will review the responses relating to patient behavior, pharmacies, and wholesalers. 
• In Part 2 (tomorrow), I’ll focus on expectations for pharmaceutical manufacturers and third-party payment. 
• In Part 3 (Thursday), I’ll examine how the coronavirus may affect the public perception of the industry’s participants.

P.S. A special shout out to the respondent who hoped that the coronavirus would not impact the quality of Drug Channels memes. Never fear, dear readers: Drug Channels will remain the internet’s top destination for pharmaceutical-related humor!
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Today’s guest post comes from David Holladay, President of CoverMyMeds and Austin Raper, Healthcare Writer at CoverMyMeds.

First, David discusses how CoverMyMeds supports medication access. Then, Austin highlights key findings from CoverMyMeds’ 2020 Medication Access Report. This new report includes industry research, patient interviews, novel survey data, and strategies for boosting patients’ medication access.

Read on for David’s and Austin’s insights.
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First, let me say thank you to all of the healthcare workers who are putting themselves at risk during this crisis.

As I noted last week, many of the crucial issues for our healthcare system will remain after we all get through this challenging period. In that regard, here’s a look at some noteworthy news from the past month:

• Sanofi discloses new data about insulin prices

• Excellent new academic research on list vs. net drug prices

• Three notable researchers overturn their earlier research on drug costs

• Amazon switches PBM vendors for some of its employees

Plus, we unveil the teaser trailer for Drug Channels Video!

P.S. Join the more than 9,000 followers of my daily links to neat stuff at @DrugChannels on Twitter. My recent tweets have highlighted such topics as:

• How GoodRx shares patients’ prescription data
• 2019 drug trend at Prime Therapeutics
• Controversy about the independent pharmacy market
• A new $5 generic mail order program, Medicare Part D reform
• Retail pharmacy’s future
• Job openings at Amazon 
• Frozen cookie dough
• And much more!

I have also been tweeting many under-the-radar stories about how the coronavirus affects drug channels.
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ICYMI, the boffins at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released their new projections for U.S. National Health Expenditures (NHE). Unfortunately, the coronavirus almost immediately made these predictions obsolete.

It’s still useful to analyze these forecasts for a pre-pandemic examination of U.S. healthcare spending. A few highlights of the 2024 outlook:

• Total U.S. spending on healthcare was projected to grow, from $3.6 trillion in 2018 to $5.0 trillion in 2024.

• Spending on hospitals and professional services was expected to grow by a combined $800 billion—more than 60% of CMS’s projected $1.4 trillion increase in U.S. healthcare spending. That’s consistent with historical trends.

• Net spending on outpatient prescription drugs in 2024 was projected to shrink to less than 9% of total U.S. spending. That would be its lowest level since 2000.

As usual, the actual facts run counter to the popular narrative that drug spending is skyrocketing relative to any other aspect of U.S. healthcare. Of course, the coronavirus will alter these projections. Below, I speculate how COVID-19 and its aftermath will affect healthcare and prescription drug spending.

Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future. Feel free to add your own outlook in the comment section below.
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Today’s guest post comes from Scott Dulitz, Chief Strategy Officer at TrialCard. Scott discusses how combining payer intelligence with market-leading technology can enhance patient access.

TrialCard recently acquired Policy Reporter, a healthcare software solutions company that provides payer intelligence to the biopharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics industries. To learn more, schedule a demo of Policy Reporter or contact Scott (scott.dulitz@trialcard.com).

You can also register for Trialcard’s upcoming webinar: Leveraging Payer Intelligence in Patient Service Programs.

Read on for Scott’s insights.
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Today’s guest post comes from Miranda Gill, Senior Director of Provider Network at CoverMyMeds.

Miranda reviews how the pandemic affects the ability of healthcare workers to complete administrative responsibilities like prior authorization. She then outlines how electronic automation is helping patients get needed medications while face-to-face interactions are restricted.

Learn more about healthcare IT solutions for providers and patients in CoverMyMeds’ 2020 Medication Access Report, or schedule a virtual meeting.
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In Drug Channels Institute's list of the top 15 pharmacies of 2019, we show that many of the largest U.S. pharmacies are now central-fill mail and specialty pharmacies operated by PBMs and insurers.

To complement that broader ranking, we present below our exclusive list of the top 15 pharmacies based on specialty drug dispensing revenues. Consistent with our previous analyses, PBMs and insurers have retained their dominance over specialty drug channels, while smaller pharmacies are facing increased competition and profit pressures.

I see upside for specialty pharmacies in the aftermath of the pandemic. This growth will come at the expense of provider-administered drug channels. I expect the top companies’ share will increase in 2020, due to mergers and business transitions among the largest PBMs. However, the increasing role of government payers may create opportunities for smaller pharmacies.

This Friday, I’ll discuss how COVID-19 will affect the specialty pharmacy market during the first of my two live video webinars.

Over the next two weeks, Drug Channels Institute will host two live video webinars: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: Retail & Specialty Pharmacies (May 1) and Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers (May 8). CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP. Contact Paula Fein (paula@drugchannelsinstitute.com) for our special promo codes for multiple viewing sites. DCI will donate 20% of all profits from these events to The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund.

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Today’s guest post comes from Trygve Anderson, Vice President of Commercial Pharmacy at Elsevier.

Trygve discusses trends and challenges to watch in 2020, including drug pricing transparency, the approval and interchangeability of biosimilars, and stakeholder access to timely and accurate data.

Learn more about Elsevier’s information analytics capabilities from its video: Evaluating Drug Data Yields Business Value.

Read on for Trygve’s insights.
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