> Senators from both parties introduced a bill that would make it harder for the FDA to approve opioids, especially those not recommended by the agency's advisory committee of outside experts. The FDA would still be able to override the committee's recommendation, but if the agency did so, it would need to send a report to Congress explaining the decision. Infamous opioid Zohydro was approved against the advice of the advisory committee, sparking outcry about the dangers of addictive painkillers that don't have an abuse-deterrent formulation. More
> KemPharm, a developer of abuse-deterrent opioids and potential beneficiary from the Senate bill, underperformed during its IPO last week. It offered 5.1 million shares at a price of $11, below the hoped-for $12 to $14, and raised $56 million. More
> Israeli researchers are developing a promising method of attacking a severe form of fatal brain cancer using bioadhesive liposomes, nanoparticles and other drug delivery tricks of the trade. More
> Provectus Biopharmaceuticals announced that it has opened enrollment for its Phase III comparative clinical trial of its PV-10 intralesional injection compared to systematic chemotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced cutaneous melanoma. More