Here's some other news of note for the week:
> In a loss for branded drugmakers, California's Supreme Court ruled that Novartis can be sued for injuries allegedly caused by generics from other companies. Reuters article
> Roche's Perjeta and Herceptin, plus chemo, won a combo FDA approval in early breast cancer—part of the company's bid to expand Perjeta's reach ahead of Herceptin biosimilars. Release
> The FDA approved Bristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo as a post-surgery treatment for melanoma patients whose cancer has spread at least as far as the lymph nodes. Release
> England's NICE recommended Novartis' Extavia to treat certain multiple sclerosis patients, but spurned Teva's Copaxone, Biogen's Avonex and Plegridy, Merck KGaA's Rebif and Bayer's Betaseron. Appraisal document (PDF)
> Merck KGaA and Pfizer's Bavencio won an FDA breakthrough therapy designation for combo therapy with Pfizer's Inlyta in advanced renal cell carcinoma. Release
> Boehringer Ingelheim settled with all 50 states for $13.5 million over allegations of off-label and deceptive marketing. Hartford Courant article
> Pfizer's Bosulif picked up an FDA nod to treat adults with newly diagnosed chronic phase Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia. Release
> Novartis' combo of Tafinlar and Mekinist won the FDA's priority review designation as an adjuvant treatment for patients with stage III melanoma with the BRAF V600E or V600K mutations following a complete resection. Release