Hello and welcome to yet another exciting week of MedNess. In this March mania, we bring the news from medicine and healthcare with the greatest impact.
Tom Price justifies NIH’s “indirect” budget cuts
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) defended Trump’s administration proposed National Institute of Health’s budget cuts. The Trump administration proposed $5.8 billion, about 18% cut for the fiscal year 2018. In addition to that, an addendum proposed an additional $1.2 billion cut for the current fiscal year. When questioned by both democrats and republicans about the nature of budget cuts, Price explained to reduce the “overhead” costs to streamline the system. According to the Secretary of HHS, the “indirect” cost takes up about 30% of the grant money, which could otherwise be available for research.
This came in as a second blow to the medical research community. Earlier this year, Trump administration pushed deregulation of FDA to accelerate the drug approval process. The research community did not welcome this proposal. Also, both pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies did not approve of the proposition (STAT and Science).
March for Science, a scientist’s view: For our readers, “overhead” or “indirect” costs constitute of anything required for carrying out research safely, smoothly and efficiently! Some of the “indirect” costs include lab equipment, electricity, custodial services and other utilities. The list is not inclusive but clearly, emphasizes the importance of overhead charges. The budget cuts will not only affect the advancement of research but will also impact jobs and outreach of science. For non-science professionals, say, politicians, the overhead cost will include, electricity, custodial services, security, dinner, travel, etc. Again, the list is not inclusive! Of course, these expenses are required for the smooth functioning of the government. Before I wrap up the section, just a thought: yes, we need the stronger military to defend the country, but we need to ask this question, who are we protecting; the people and the Mother Nature. Therefore, we need an effective EPA and NIH. We need the healthy and clean environment and disease-free children and adults.
Amgen’s LDL-lowering drug Repatha: effective drug with good data for a bad price?
Amgen presented Phase III FOURIER results on Repatha (Evolocumab) at the 2017 American College of Cardiology conference. Repatha is an LDL-lowering PCSK9 inhibitor. Repatha targets PCSK9 proteins in the blood stream thus preventing it from binding to and breaking down LDL cholesterol receptors in the liver. The trial results were impressive. This wonder drug is believed to break down the most stubborn cholesterol. The FDA approved drug marketing in 2015 after the drug’s addition to statins reduced the LDL levels by about 63%. At the ACC, Amgen reported the outcome of long-term FOURIER trial and the results showed that Repatha reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke by 15% or more. Repatha met both its primary and secondary composite endpoint in the secondary prevention trial demonstrating superiority to statin therapy. However, analysts are not too impressed with the data and question the high price of the drug. Earlier, analysts with BioPharmInsight suggested that the high price of Repatha could be justified if the cardiovascular event risk reduction is at least 35%. Repatha has been price tagged for $14,000 annually. The trial findings and analyst’s reports will also affect insurance coverage of the drug (MedPage Today).
MedNess: PCSK9 is the hottest target in the field of cardiovascular research. While Amgen’s drug can crush the most stubborn cholesterol molecules, the investors were not impressed, or at least the stock market trend did not concede with it. After the results had been announced, Amgen’s stock price went down by 10%. However, a lot of analysts are still keeping their faith in Amgen’s stocks and considering this temporary dip as an opportunity for investment. On the contrary, the competition from other biosimilars is getting fiercer, and the dip in stock price might not be temporary after all. Other contenders in this area with Amgen, are the drugs from Sanofi and Regeneron. Both the companies are locked in a patent battle with Amgen. Another drug in the race is The Medicine’s Company’s inclisiran. Unlike Amgen’s, Sanofi’s and Regeneron’s drug, inclisiran interrupts PCSK9 synthesis. The analysts look at this drug as efficacious as Repatha but with fewer annual doses. If this assumption is correct, Amgen will have a hard time convincing insurance companies for their drug price. The best bet might be therefore to either wait or invest wisely (The Motley Fool and Seeking alpha).
FDA approves Roche MS drug Ocrevus after 3-month delay
The FDA approved Roche MS drug Ocrevus after initial delay caused by regulator’s concerns over manufacturing issues.
Ocrelizumab, becomes the first U.S.-approved medicine for the primary progressive multiple sclerosis. It has also been approved for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Biogen’s MS drug has been used to treat RRMS. Biogen will receive up to 24% royalty on U.S. sales of Ocrevus. According to the pharmaceutical giant; Ocrevus is expected to be available for use to people within two weeks.
MedNess: Analysts forecast annual sales exceeding $3 billion by 2021 as reported by Reuters. After the approval news, Biogen stock fell by 2%, and Roche stock rose by a fraction. Novartis’s drug for MS treatment, BAF312, for secondary progressive MS is expected to receive regulatory approval in the first half of 2017. Until then, Roche can bask in glory (Reuters, Investor’s Business Daily, FiercePharma).
FDA approves Tesaro Inc’s Niraparib for the treatment of Ovarian Cancer
Tesaro’s Niraprib (Zejula) gained an early approval by FDA for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer. Zejula is a PARP inhibitor causing DNA damage. It is a first drug in the class that can be used to treat all women with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer without requiring BRCA mutation or biomarker evaluation. This is unlike the rival drug Lynparza by AstraZeneca. In addition, Zejula acquired orphan drug designation for its use in the treatment of recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.
MedNess: According to EvaluatePharma, Zejula is one of the top drug launches of 2017 with 2022 sales expectations of $1.9 billion. Tesaro Inc’s shares were up 7.78 percent after the drug gained FDA approval (FiercePharma and BusinessInsider).
Illustration: Ipsa Jain
About the Author
Imit Kaur is a freelance medical writer, editor and an active science blogger. She pursued her PhD in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from University of Utah. She is experienced in the field of oncology, hematology, pharmacology, nanotechnology and drug development.
