USA Boston University School of Law’s Kevin Outterson* looks at how cost-saving measures are contributing to the rise of drug-resistant “superbugs” in the US and the steps that need to be taken to remedy the situation.   Globally, 700,000 people lose their lives to drug-resistant infections each year In November 2019,…

Opinion Monica Weldon, CEO and president of Bridge the Gap – SYNGAP Education and Research Foundation, shares her recent experience at the US Drug Law and Regulation course in Washington, DC and expands on the role that patient associations can play in the drug development process.   In today’s environment of…

Canada Marina Vasiliou took the reins as managing director of Biogen Canada in November 2017 after a long and varied career at MSD in a wide variety of geographies.   Canada’s biggest strengths are its diversity and openness—whether that is in health sciences or the culture itself Marina Vasiliou, Biogen Vasiliou…

USA Peter Marks, director of the US FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, outlines how the organization is attempting to further promote the advancement of cutting edge cell and gene therapies in the US and beyond.   To keep pace with the remarkable and continuing growth of gene therapy, FDA’s…

Brazil Swiss pharma giant Novartis is teaming up with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Brazil to conduct research throughout Latin America on neglected diseases.   This agreement establishes an exchange of know-how that will provide progress in public health policies in Brazil Patrice Matchaba, global head of corporate responsibility, Novartis…

USA The AAM’s Chip Davis examines the roadblocks to greater adoption of biosimilar drugs in the USA, and why they need to be removed to potentially save billions of dollars and increase patient access to lifesaving medications.     In a nutshell: competition brings prices down across the board Biologic drugs…

USA AstraZeneca’s Rick R. Suarez looks at workable solutions to the challenges facing healthcare in the US and why inter-stakeholder collaboration, rather than finger-pointing, is the only way forward.   Discussion and debate related to cost and quality in healthcare has never been more pronounced or more contentious, whether focusing on…

USA Carla Smith looks at the various cybersecurity risks that exist across the US healthcare continuum and the steps that executive leadership can take to combat this threat.   Keeping patient data safe and secure remains a challenge. Thanks to a 9-year review of experiences in the United States, we know…

USA The US drug-price watchdog, The Institute for Clinical & Economic Review (ICER) recently issued a “Report on Unsupported Price Increases,” picking a number of innovative medicines that it says have seen price hikes without sufficient substantiation. While the study made the headlines, Certara’s Ulrich Neumann calls for some scepticism and…

Puerto Rico Four top facts you may have missed about Puerto Rico’s medical device manufacturing industry.   Fact 1: Medical device manufacturing in Puerto Rico started with Baxter in the 1950s  Baxter arrived in 1958 under the name of Travenol and opened its first plant in Carolina, making it the first life…

Puerto Rico Three heads of manufacturing for big pharma affiliates in Puerto Rico elaborate on how digital technology is revolutionising pharma manufacturing processes.   More than half of the world’s top 20 multinational pharma companies conduct manufacturing processes in Puerto Rico, and the island manufactured half of 2018’s best-selling drugs. Some Puerto…

Brazil Three seasoned pharma executives with a wealth of experience working in Brazil offer their insights on leadership strategies for success in the massive, but complex, Brazilian pharma market.          Only a 100 percent ethical business is the right business to be conducted. Pius Hornstein, Country Chair, Sanofi…