Look back at Pharma events to June 9

As part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, which overall was viewed as not particularly exciting this year, hitting the headlines was Roche’s presentation on Perjeta and Loxo Oncology’s much anticipated larotrectinib data. Elsewhere, there was positive data on AbbVie’s upadacitinib in rheumatoid arthritis, Valeant Pharmaceutical International shedding its Australian subsidiary iNova, and Jazz Pharmaceuticals narcolepsy drug JZP-110.

Putting Roche’s APHINITY issues in context

Shares in the largest market cap company predominantly devoted to pharmaceuticals, Roche, took a hit Monday as its presentation of the important APHINITY study showed details that were not as positive as the investment community had thought when the company discussed top-line data in March, commented blogger “DoctoRx” on Seeking Alpha. The APHINITY study looked at RHHBY's marketed Perjeta added to the known combination of Roche's Herceptin used with chemotherapy for a certain class of breast cancer following surgery.