drugs

Prescription Drug Prices Keep Growing Strong

Prescription-drug prices have been outpacing the growth in prices for other medical products and services, according to a study from the Government Accountability Office this week. Which drugs have seen the biggest hikes?

FDA Approves First New Lupus Drug in Half a Century

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the first new drug to treat lupus in 56 years. It's not terribly effective: It only worked for 35% of the patients tested. But experts say the approval could prompt the development of more effective drugs.

Drug-Related Emergency Room Visits Are on the Rise

Roughly 700,000 Americans were taken to the hospital in 2007 after ingesting drugs -- both legal and illegal -- costing $1.4 billion per year in emergency department charges alone, according to a new study.

Pfizer Shrinks Its Drug Pipeline Amid R&D Cuts

In an update Tuesday, Pfizer said it is discontinuing 15 of the projects in its development pipeline. The news comes a month after the world's largest pharmaceutical company announced large research and development cuts were on the way.

Top-Selling Drugs About to Lose Patent Protection

The pharmaceutical industry is ready to fall off a cliff -- a "patent cliff." Over the next few years, some of the world's most popular and lucrative medicines will go off patent, and generic competition will siphon an estimated quarter of a trillion dollars from drugmakers' bottom lines.

Why Samsung Electronics Should Say No to Drugs

Samsung Electronics is known for its smartphones, TVs and memory chips. Now it wants to tackle biopharmaceuticals, on Friday announcing a new joint venture to produce drugs to treat cancer and arthritis. Here's why the move could prove an ill-needed distraction for the electronics giant.

Big Pharma Looks Beyond Drugs to Smartphone Apps

Pharmaceutical companies looking for fresh sources of profit are increasingly investing in a range of health care innovations that aren't drugs at all, from smartphone apps and educational websites to social media platforms and wireless devices, reports Ernst & Young.

The Problem with Fast-Tracking Drug Approvals: Pharmas Fail to Follow Up

To get potentially lifesaving drugs to patients faster, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowed to approve some drugs -- those that address unmet medical needs -- based on fewer trials than usual. But it turns out that many of the pharmaceutical companies fail to conduct follow-up trials to prove the drugs work.

Senators Propose a New Law to Address Drug Shortages

Health care providers have been reporting unprecedented shortages of prescription drugs, including vital medications such as chemotherapies and antibiotics. Under current law, the FDA has no power to act, so two senators have introduced a bill to help government get a handle on the problem.

Sanofi-Aventis, Genzyme on the Brink of a Merger

It seems that months of merger talks between French pharma Sanofi-Aventis and U.S. biotech Genzyme have entered the home stretch. This week, Sanofi is expected to offer $74 a share for Genzyme, with an option included potentially worth $5 to $6 a share.

More Proof That Whistleblowing on Medicaid Fraud Works

Whistleblowing firm Ven-A-Care has recovered $2 billion for taxpayers by suing drug companies that overcharge the government and create windfalls for participating pharmacies. It also has made $380 million for itself. What's the problem with that?

Confirmed: Why Merck Halted Its Stroke-Victim Study

When Merck halted a late-stage study of its potential clot-preventing drug vorapaxar in stroke victims last week, it didn't explain why. Now, the company has confirmed it stopped the study after concerns that the drug increased the risk of bleeding in some patients.

Drug Shortages: A Deadly Problem With No Cure in Sight

If gasoline or jobs or milk were in short supply, we'd all know about it. But unknown to most Americans, the country is now in the grips of a life-threatening drug shortage. Medical professionals are quite aware of it, however, and they're deeply concerned.