Look back at pharma news in week to Mar 16

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

New research results from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and partner Sanofi on their PCSK9 drug Praluent and a novel scheme to improve access to the expensive drug attracted a great deal of attention last week, as did late-stage trial results with AbbVie’s elagolix for uterine fibroids. In deal-making news, there was Biogen picking up Pfizer’s neurological cast-off PF-04958242, and Lundbeck acquiring Prexton Therapeutics along with its Parkinson’s disease drug foliglurax, as well as Ionis Pharmaceuticals upping its stake in Akcea Therapeutics and off-loading its rare disease drug candidate inotersen.

Praluent’s Odyssey ends with a whimper