Fishers firm to help push injectables to market faster
A startup that’s planning to launch a $60 million drug-manufacturing plant sees big growth in contract manufacturing.
Pharmaceutical
Articles
FDA approves first COVID-19 drug: antiviral remdesivir
The drug, which California-based Gilead Sciences Inc. is calling Veklury, cut the time to recovery by five days—from 15 days to 10 on average—in a large study led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Regulators, experts take up thorny COVID-19 vaccine study issues
On Thursday, a federal advisory committee will debate whether the guidelines the FDA has set for vaccine developers are rigorous enough. Interest is so high, the FDA is airing the meeting on YouTube.
OxyContin maker to plead to 3 criminal charges, make $8B settlement
Purdue Pharma, the company that makes OxyContin, the powerful painkiller that experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic, will plead guilty to counts including conspiracy to defraud the United States and violating federal anti-kickback laws, the officials said.
Ex-Cook Group execs to launch life sciences startup in Fishers
The new company, contract drug developer INCog Biopharma, plans to build a $60 million facility and hire up to 150 workers by the end of 2024.
J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine trial paused over unexplained illness
The pause is at least the second such hold to occur among several vaccines that have reached large-scale final tests in the United States.
Eli Lilly, hospitals go to war over drug prices
A long-simmering dispute between Eli Lilly and Co. and safety-net hospitals across the nation over the price of prescription drugs has reached the boiling point.
Sanofi, Glaxo start human trials for COVID-19 vaccine
Two of the world’s biggest vaccine makers, began testing their experimental COVID-19 shot in the first patients on Thursday and aim to start late-stage trials before year-end.
Lilly’s Jardiance pill could get boost to blockbuster status with latest findings
Lilly and partner Boehringer Ingelheim published results from a trial showing the drug cut the risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations or death by 25%, compared to placebo in heart failure patients.
Elanco’s big job: Making the Bayer deal work
Now that the company has closed its $6.9 billion acquisition of the German conglomerate’s animal-health division, it must now swiftly and carefully integrate the two sprawling companies in the midst of a pandemic.
Pfizer executive targets end of year for COVID-19 vaccine
The developers said they have the potential to manufacture up to 100 million vaccine doses by the end of this year and up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021.
With no new law to curb drug costs, Trump tries own changes
President Trump signed four executive orders Friday. One was about importation. The others would direct drugmaker rebates straight to patients, provide insulin and EpiPens at steep discounts, and use lower international prices to pay for some Medicare drugs.
Lilly seeking $23.8M tax break to expand diabetes research, production
In the past seven years, the drugmaker has received tax breaks worth nearly $40 million in exchange for investing more than $500 million at its Indianapolis properties.
Elanco gets U.S. regulatory approval for $7.6B Bayer acquisition
Shares in Elanco rose 2.8% Wednesday morning after the approval was announced, to $24.13 each.
Novartis unit to build plant for targeted cancer drugs in Indianapolis
A subsidiary of Swiss drug giant Novartis AG announced plans Tuesday to build a targeted radioligand therapy plant at Purdue Research Park near Indianapolis International Airport.
After years of turmoil, biotech testing firm aims to grow again
West Lafayette-based Bioanalytical Systems’ latest executive departure comes amid recent signs of stability, turnaround and growth for a company that just three years ago was on the verge of sinking.
White House wins ruling on health care price disclosure
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar called the decision in federal court in Washington, D.C., “a resounding victory” for President Donald Trump’s efforts to open up the convoluted world of health care pricing.
Court strikes down Trump rule that drugmakers disclose prices
In a major legal setback for President Donald Trump on a high-profile consumer issue, a federal appeals court has ruled that his administration lacks the legal authority to force drug companies to disclose prices in their TV ads.
Researchers say drug improving survival from COVID-19
Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: The cheap, widely available steroid reduced deaths by up to one-third in severely ill hospitalized patients.
Canadian startup wants to be ready with Indy plant when drug hits market
Unlike many pharmaceutical startups, which often contract with outside manufacturers to make their drugs, Point Biopharma is spending $25 million to transform a building in Indianapolis where it hopes to handle its own manufacturing as soon as 2023.