A new pilot program by the insurer is offering a $500 debit card to patients who switch from the blockbuster Novartis psoriasis drug to Lilly's rival Taltz or other preferred drugs.

Lilly Bio-Medicines president Ilya Yuffa oversees newer products in competitive therapeutic areas and drug classes, but additional indications and new therapies within the group’s immunology, pain and neuroscience focus areas will capitalize on the group’s existing commercial expertise. 

The head of Novartis Gene Therapies in Europe tells Scrip that innovative payment models and involving all stakeholders have helped payers see beyond a simple price tag and see the benefits of a one-time gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy.

The Belgian biotech is pleased with the launch of its rheumatoid arthritis drug in Germany and the Netherlands and it has also secured a broad label from NICE.

The Swiss major envisions developing an accessible in vivo gene therapy for SCD that could potentially be administered once directly to the patient without the need to modify cells in a lab.

Rheumatologists may be more cautious about prescribing biosimilars to Humira than they have been for biosimilars to Avastin and Herceptin. But pharmacy benefit managers will have more influence over Humira biosimilars, which adds a new dynamic to the follow-on market.

Biocon Biologics strikes deal with the Clinton Health Access Initiative to provide cost-effective alternatives to pricey reference biologics, beginning with trastuzumab and pegfilgrastim. Savings of over 59% for buyers are expected in some cases.

The notion that pharma R&D caters for western populations first and only much later are the fruits of that research made available for low-income countries is slowly but surely changing, according to a high-profile review of access to drugs.

A conditional marketing authorization for AstraZeneca/Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine came just hours after the European Medicines Agency’s CHMP voted unanimously to recommend it on Friday.