Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Drug Co. Ordered To Continue Making Alzheimer's Medicine
The Associated Press: Judge Halts Alzheimer's Drug Swap Until July
A federal judge on Monday ordered an Irish drug manufacturer to halt its plans to discontinue its widely used Alzheimer's medication, allegedly in an effort to drive patients to a newer patented drug. U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet told Dublin-based Actavis PLC to continue making the drug Namenda available for 30 days after generic alternatives become available on July 11 "in order to allow for an orderly transition." His injunction orders the company to inform doctors and pharmacists of the decision and tells Actavis not to impose any hurdles for filling prescriptions of the drug. (Virtanen, 12/15)
The Wall Street Journal: Court Rules On Alzheimer’s Drug
A federal court judge issued an injunction Monday that prevents Actavis PLC from pulling an older version of its Namenda medication for Alzheimer’s disease from pharmacy shelves in favor of a newer version of the drug. The case involves a controversial tactic in the pharmaceutical industry to manage a product’s life cycle. (Silverman, 12/15)
Meanwhile, hedge fund founder Daniel Loeb gives $15 million to create a research center devoted to studying Alzheimer’s disease -
The Wall Street Journal: Funding The Next Alzheimer’s Fight
Daniel S. Loeb is making an investment into Alzheimer’s research that he hopes will have maximum impact. On Tuesday, Mount Sinai Hospital and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai will announce a $15 million gift from Mr. Loeb—founder and chief executive of hedge fund firm Third Point LLC—to fund the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s disease. (West, 12/15)
