CMS to restrict Medicare Advantage ads

Today's Big News

Oct 27, 2022

Pfizer under Italian finance probe over alleged $1.2B profits offshoring: Bloomberg

GSK dumps major pipeline prospect otilimab on lackluster phase 3 data in rheumatoid arthritis

CMS to restrict Medicare Advantage TV ads, scrutinize brokers and agents amid high complaints

Thermo Fisher racks up higher-than-expected COVID test sales yet again, adding an extra $200M to Q3 haul

In defense, Merck CEO and soon-to-be chairman Davis touts progress in his tenure

 

Featured

Pfizer under Italian finance probe over alleged $1.2B profits offshoring: Bloomberg

In the latest tax avoidance investigation into a Big Pharma company, Italian finance authorities are probing Pfizer's Italian unit for allegedly offshoring profits of at least $1.2 billion, Bloomberg reports.
 

Top Stories

GSK dumps major pipeline prospect otilimab on lackluster phase 3 data in rheumatoid arthritis

GSK has dumped one of its top pipeline prospects. While two of the three phase 3 trials of otilimab hit their primary endpoints, the Big Pharma concluded the efficacy fell short of the level needed to take the anti-GM-CSF antibody forward in rheumatoid arthritis.

CMS to restrict Medicare Advantage TV ads, scrutinize brokers and agents amid high complaints

CMS is cracking down on Medicare Advantage marketing practices, including implementing a new requirement next year for federal approval of an TV ads before they air.

Thermo Fisher racks up higher-than-expected COVID test sales yet again, adding an extra $200M to Q3 haul

If the last year has taught diagnostic developers anything, it’s not to underestimate what Abbott CEO Robert Ford recently termed the “stickiness” of COVID-19 tests—even as case rates remain well below their peaks and testing requirements relax.

In defense, Merck CEO and soon-to-be chairman Davis touts progress in his tenure

A day after he was named Merck's next chairman, in addition to his CEO duties, Rob Davis touted his efforts to beef up the company's pipeline, citing a promising group of cardiovascular drugs.

Merck & Co. ditches oncolytic virus Cavatak 4 years after buying Viralytics

Merck is dropping the cancer treatment acquired in its acquisition of Viralytics back in 2018. A spokesperson confirmed that the asset was axed as a part of the company's prioritization efforts.

Universal Health Services sees dipping profits despite halving contract labor costs from previous quarter

The acute and behavioral care company said its operations are still feeling the sting of COVID-19 and labor shortages.

'We can turn this ship around': FDA, Edwards on how devicemakers can better serve female patients

Upping the rates of women who actually receive proper and effective treatments will start with practical changes at the clinical trial level, backed by an overhaul of traditional beliefs about who is represented in healthcare.

As Amvuttra makes inroads in ATTR, Alnylam scraps heart disease trial interim analysis, rethinks another rare disorder plan

The readout for newly FDA-approved Amvuttra in ATTR cardiomyopathy is on many Alnylam investors’ mind. But the company figures patience is a virtue. It's also taking some time to consider another Amvuttra development plan, citing the Inflation Reduction Act.

Bristol Myers keeps Obsidian cell therapy pact rocking with multiyear extension

Bristol Myers Squibb has inked a multi-year extension to its collaboration with Obsidian Therapeutics, securing itself the exclusive option to license cell therapies that use its partner’s technology to control the expression of CD40L.

Walmart Health plans to open 16 more Florida clinics next year

Walmart Health is planning its next expansion. The retail giant said Wednesday that it will open an additional 16 health centers in Florida over the next year, focused in the Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa markets.

FDA expands label of 23andMe genetic report predicting response to popular cholesterol drug

In recent years, 23andMe has repositioned itself as a genetic testing company that does more than help users fill out their family trees, but also answer crucial questions about their predispositions for potential conditions.

Bluebird spinout 2seventybio, JW Therapeutics ink $3M deal for solid tumor cell therapy program

Bluebird spinout 2seventybio and China-based CAR-T company JW Therapeutics are joining forces to build out a cell therapy platform in hopes of creating T cell receptor therapies for certain solid tumors.
 
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'Podnosis': Medicare Advantage and what you missed from the Fierce Health Payer summit

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