Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Reporting Requirements For Drug Manufacturers Can Create Headaches For Investors
The Wall Street Journal: Why Early Peeks At Drug Trials Are Giving Investors Whiplash
Roche Holding AG shares jumped 6.5% on a single day in early March when the drugmaker said its new breast-cancer treatment, Perjeta, helped prolong average patient survival in a clinical study. But the stock gave up nearly all those gains three months later, when the Swiss company disclosed full details of the trial at a medical conference. The study, dubbed Aphinity, showed what some doctors said was only a marginal benefit for Perjeta .... The episode throws light on the peculiar drip-feed way drug companies often disclose the results of clinical trials. (Loftus and Roland, 8/14)
Miami Herald: FDA Calls Out PharmaTech, 22 Liquid Drug Products Recalled
For the second time in 10 months, the FDA has issued an advisory to avoid liquid drug products made at Davie company PharmaTech after finding Burkholderia cepacia contamination in the products. And three drug companies issued a sweeping all-lots, all-expiration-dates wholesale and retail recall of 22 over the counter liquid medications made by PharmaTech. (Neal, 8/14)
