CER Daily Newsfeed

Study Compares Single-Inhaler Triple Therapies for Treatment of COPD

(1/3, Elana Gotkine, Medical Xpress) reports “For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), budesonide-glycopyrrolate-formoterol does not improve clinical outcomes compared with fluticasone-umeclidinium-vilanterol, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in The BMJ.” Full

250 Brand Drugs To See Average Of 4.5% Price Hikes, Advocates Urge Congress To Act

(1/2, Gabrielle Wanneh, Inside Health Policy) reports “...The [Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing’s] solutions range from Congress passing bills to prohibit drug makers from placing so-called patent thickets on a single product to extend its market exclusivity and to promote the use of biosimilars as a substitute to higher-cost brand biologics; empowering the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality with the resources and authorities necessary to conduct assessments of the affordability of launch prices and annual price increases...” Subscription Required

UK: Man's Anxious Wait for MND Drug Approval

(½, Catriona Aitken, BBC) reports “...Tofersen is suitable for 2% of people with [motor neurone disease], or about 100 people across Wales and England and was previously considered by NICE as too costly for the NHS. But, following a charity campaign, NICE announced it would reconsider its approach to the drug to look at it as part of the Highly Specialised Technologies (HST) programme, for the most rare and severe diseases.” Full