Look back at pharma news in week to October 19

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

Among news on clinical trials reporting last week, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo failed to meet its endpoint in a Phase III study for small cell lung cancer, while, after a timeout of the limelight, Roche’s Kadcyla proved its worth in breast cancer. On government affairs, US proposals for drugmakers to show prices in direct-to-consumer (DTC) adverts attracted attention. Also of note, Pfizer gained US Food and Drug Administration approval for its new breast cancer drug Talzenna, and Novartis announced it has reached agreement to acquire oncology drug developer Endocyte.

Yet again, it’s Bristol-Myers drawing the short straw