Pharmaceutical companies

NICE recommends alternative corticosteroid for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The guidance says that vamorolone reduces “adverse events” that are tied to other currently available corticosteroids, which include osteoporosis, weight gain and delayed puberty.…

UK medicines regulation disincentivising investment in research development, finds survey

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s survey results accompany 12 recommendations for improving the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency’s effectiveness as a UK medicines regulator.…

Novo Nordisk reprimanded for failing to disclose payments of almost £8m to healthcare sector

The decision to publicly reprimand Novo Nordisk was based on hundreds of payments made to more than 150 healthcare organisations, professionals, and members of the public, amounting to £7.8m.…

Levy hike puts future of UK-based clinical trials in doubt, says Sanofi chief executive

Exclusive: Jessamy Baird says the rise in the 'Voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access' rate has changed the way decisions are made in research and development.…

Revealed: the generic price hikes increasing the NHS drugs bill

Far from being a money saver, the generic medicines market has cost the NHS an additional £76m over the past two years.…

Just out of reach: why the UK must rethink its barriers to novel medicines

The early access to medicines scheme has been running for six years, but has it had the desired impact of ensuring the sickest patients are spared the wait for the most promising treatments, or is it failing to live up to expectations?…

We must learn the lessons from Priadel

The discontinuation of Priadel shows we need a tougher regulatory environment to prevent firms making commercial decisions that put vulnerable patients at risk.…

NHS England boss accuses Priadel manufacturer of using COVID-19 to ‘price-gouge’ British taxpayers

The chief executive of NHS England has accused the manufacturer of a first-line medication for bipolar disorder of “trying to jack the prices of a long-standing medicine”.…

Health bodies make ‘urgent’ call to Matt Hancock to intervene in the proposed withdrawal of bipolar drug

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has been urged to “personally intervene” so that bipolar drug Priadel remains available in the UK with an appropriate pricing structure.…

Manufacturers asked to retain Brexit medicine stockpiles amid supply concerns over coronavirus

The government has asked pharmaceutical companies to keep their no-deal Brexit medicine stockpiles as a precaution against shortages arising from the spread of the coronavirus in China.…