Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Mylan Hopes To Sell EpiPens Directly To Consumers And Bypass Pharmacies
Bloomberg: Mylan’s EpiPen Sales Plan: Schools Today, Everywhere Tomorrow
Mylan NV made a fortune, and stirred controversy, while getting EpiPen allergy shots stocked in schools across America. Now the drugmaker wants to sell EpiPens to restaurants, sports venues and potentially even Boy Scout troops -- by setting up its own pharmacy to cut out middlemen and lobbying for new laws that could expand sales of its biggest product. The plan, obtained by Bloomberg News through public records requests, would bypass small-town pharmacists and chains like CVS and Walgreens and let Mylan sell the drug directly to public places. (Hopkins and Langreth, 1/6)
The Wall Street Journal: Walgreens Boots CEO: No Plan B For Rite Aid Merger
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has no backup plan should U.S. antitrust regulators reject a $9.4 billion tie-up with Rite Aid Corp. that has been held up amid scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission, the drugstore giant’s chief executive said Thursday. “We don’t want even to think the deal could not be approved after so many months, after we have given so much information and have had a good relationship with the people of the FTC,” Walgreens CEO Stefano Pessina said during a call with analysts. (Terlep and Steele, 1/5)
Reuters: Walgreens Profit Beats Estimates On PBM Partnerships
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit as recent partnerships with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurance companies helped boost sales of prescription drugs as well as non-drug items. The largest U.S. drugstore chain also raised the lower end of its adjusted profit forecast for the year ending August 2017. ( Ramakrishnan, 1/5)
Reuters: Regeneron, Sanofi To Appeal U.S. Judge's Ban On Cholesterol Drug Sales
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc and Sanofi SA said on Thursday they would appeal the U.S. District Court ruling which banned the two companies from selling their cholesterol drug, Praluent, on grounds of patent infringement. A federal judge had earlier blocked Sanofi and Regeneron from selling the drug after Amgen Inc accused them of infringing its patents. (Pierson, 1/5)
The Wall Street Journal: Judge Rules Against Sanofi And Regeneron In Patent Case
A U.S. federal judge ruled Thursday that drugmakers Sanofi SA and partner Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. infringed the patent that rival Amgen Inc. holds for its new cholesterol drug. The decision permanently blocks Sanofi and Regeneron from selling their drug Praluent in the U.S., which would provide a big boost to Amgen’s drug Repatha if the decision stands. (Rockoff, 1/5)
The Wall Street Journal: Biotech Stocks Find Reprieve In Options
After the worst year for American biotechnology stock since 2002, options traders are optimistic about the group, according to data compiled by Goldman Sachs Group. In a note Thursday, the firm showed how options positioning for two biotech exchange-traded funds was among the most positive. (Banerji, 1/5)
