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How long can a single infusion of CAR-T drug Yescarta continue helping patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma? Pretty long, Gilead Sciences showed Saturday. Nearly half of patients treated with Yescarta more than three years ago—47%—were still alive at a median follow-up of 39.1 months.

AbbVie and Roche have been fielding their fair share of questions about how well their fixed-duration regimen of Venclexta and Rituxan could keep chronic lymphocytic leukemia from returning after therapy ends. And the companies now think they have some compelling answers.

Over the last couple of weeks, regulators in the U.S., Canada and Australia have all green-lighted AstraZeneca’s Calquence in newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. And Saturday, the company revealed more of the data that convinced them to dole out those approvals.

On the heels of an FDA speedy review for Keytruda’s potential use in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, its close rival, a gene therapy by Ferring Pharmaceuticals spinout FerGene, has posted competitive late-stage data. But Merck has at least one upper hand.

In June, a U.S. district court judge temporarily shielded Novartis’ $3 billion-a-year multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya from generic competition—but that’s not preventing generics makers from lining up at the starting gate. Thursday, the FDA approved the first three generic versions of Gilenya, which will be made by HEC Pharm, Biocon and Sun Pharmaceutical.

Gilead is hoping to score a patent extension on TAF meds, but patient advocates say that would reward conduct that harmed patients. In a petition to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the group PrEP4All says the drugmaker delayed development of the drug regimen to protect the market for older meds.

Alexion has withstood its fair share of gales in recent years after a wholesale shakeup at the top and now a potential shift toward an M&A-focused strategy underway. Now, despite one activist investor's call for a "proactive" sale, Alexion's board has decided to stay the course.

Astellas buys into gene therapy with $3 billion Audentes Therapeutics takeover. Keytruda and Opdivo lose out in latest China reimbursement talks. Hanmi Pharma expands immuno-oncology footprint with $118 million Rapt Therapeutics deal. And more.

Merck just last month won the world's first licensure for an Ebola vaccine. Now, an international vaccine group has authorized funding to establish a global stockpile of 500,000 doses. Amid an ongoing outbreak in Congo, officials have used about 250,000 doses.

When Acadia trumpeted news that it would end a late-stage trial for its Nuplazid in dementia-related psychosis (DRP) early, it represented a big win for a drugmaker still stinging from a major schizophrenia flop. Now, data from that trial are giving some analysts hope that Nuplazid could hit blockbuster heights––with or without schizophrenia.

Novartis had a "breakthrough" year in 2019 with 5 new blockbuster approvals, CEO Vas Narasimhan said in conjunction with a Thursday R&D event. While those launches get underway, the company is planning 80 major drug submissions in key markets over the next three years, and 25 of those could be blockbuster opportunities.

Gilead and HHS have had a busy year in PrEP, including a patent lawsuit, but now they're starting a program to provide HIV prevention meds to those who can benefit for free. Under the program, HHS is paying Gilead $200 per bottle of medication to cover distribution costs.

After a global scare over carcinogen contamination in heartburn med Zantac, regulators are growing increasingly wary about other drugs that may have flown under the radar. Now, generic metformin, a Type 2 diabetes medication, could be next in the FDA's firing line.

Every year Klick Health creates an annual holiday video message for pharma clients and potential employees. Past videos have been funny and lighthearted or groovy and chic. However, this year’s video takes a more somber approach to promote its message about simple acts of kindness.

The DOJ's generics price fixing probe has been playing out for years, and this week authorities unveiled a new settlement with the small drugmaker Rising Pharmaceuticals. Rising admitted to price fixing and working with a competitor to rig the market for its hypertension med. It also agreed to cooperate in an ongoing criminal investigation.

Amgen signed a deal with pharmacy benefits manager Abarca that ties reimbursement for its rheumatoid arthritis blockbuster Enbrel to patients' willingness to stay on the drug for the long term. The company could be open to more such outcomes-based deals as the drug faces competition from biosimilars and next-generation RA drugs.

Between AbbVie's blue-blood launch duo, psoriasis med Skyrizi's booming sales have drawn some analysts' eyes away from highly-touted rheumatoid arthritis drug Rinvoq. But among physicians, Rinvoq is becoming a darling, one analyst said––and an "AbbVie halo" could be major part of that.

As lawmakers and the Trump administration debate drug pricing proposals, White House economic advisers have published unfavorable findings on House speaker Nancy Pelosi's plan. The bill would result in 100 fewer new drug launches over a decade and hurt Americans' average life expectancy, they say.

Roche has added another FDA nod to its Tecentriq arsenal as it tries to challenge Keytruda’s lead in non-small cell lung cancer. Its Tecentriq-chemo regimen is now allowed in new nonsquamous patients, just as other PD-1/L1 players come after the lucrative market with their own combo data.

Philadelphia ranks fourth among large cities in prevalence of Type 2 diabetes. That’s one of the reasons Novo Nordisk chose the home of the Liberty Bell as the second U.S. city in its localized initiative to prevent Type 2 diabetes. Called “Cities Changing Diabetes,” the effort has now spread to 25 cities around the world.

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