Three pieces of Humira news

  1. The FDA approved the first biosimilar (i.e., generic) version of AbbVie’s Humira for the U.S. market: Novartis’s Hyrimoz (which is “Zomiryh” backwards).
  2. Hyrimoz won’t be sold here until 2023.
  3. Humira biosimilars were already announced in Europe, but AbbVie is fighting back by offering an 80 percent (!) discount to the EU government.

Looking at you, Steve Jobs

A poll from the American Society of Clinical Oncology found that 40 percent of Americans “believe cancer can be cured with the use of alternative therapies alone.” We’re talking “enzyme and oxygen therapy, certain diets, and vitamins and minerals.”

Keep it in your genes

Yeah, genetic tests are cool for finding out that you’re 75 percent Golden Horde or whatever, but the FDA would like to remind you that no, they can’t predict your response to a particular medication. (Probably. We just don’t know yet.)

NCPA turns up the heat on PBMs

Our friends at NCPA have been working hard, and they’ve had some success to show for it. In fact, they made a short video to tell you about it : https://youtu.be/C6iX-k2vlNs

CVS tests next weapon in its war with Amazon

CVS is testing an Amazon-Prime-like membership program called CarePass. The test is in Boston, the fee is $48 a year, and it includes free delivery, “access to a pharmacist helpline, a 20 percent discount on all CVS-branded products and a monthly $10 coupon.”

Looking for patients affected by BCBS policy

Blue Cross Blue Shield has a new, retroactive policy that might deny payments to people who use the ER if the insurer doesn’t think it was an emergency.

If you know of any patients affected by this policy, would you drop a quick note to Greg Reybold at greybold@gpha.org (or simply reply to this message)?

Just let him burp

Got a patient who’s giving her kids acid suppressants? Offer a warning: It could lead to obesity later. (How? By messing with gut microbes, of course.)

I bet they like the pharmacist just fine

Half of little kids are afraid of the doctor.

Maybe news, maybe not

New York-based Schrödinger announced it is forming a new drug discovery venture with a Chinese company. It may or may not have results soon.