Cost-effectiveness watchdogs in the U.K. dealt another couple of blows to pricey cancer drugs. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence gave a final thumbs-down to Roche's ($RHHBY) breast cancer med Kadcyla, despite the drugmaker's discount offer. Agency reviewers also recommended against using Bristol-Myers Squibb's ($BMY) Opdivo in squamous non-small cell lung cancer, saying the immunotherapy was too costly for its admittedly notable clinical benefits. More from FiercePharma
> Clovis Oncology ($CLVS) said the FDA is extending its review of a new lung cancer treatment, rociletinib, giving AstraZeneca ($AZN) more time to build momentum for its rival med Tagrisso, approved last month. Report
> Merck & Co. ($MRK) won an expanded indication for its HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 in boys and young men aged 16 to 26. Release
> Kantar Health bought the Prague-based market research, analytics and consulting firm CEEOR to beef up its suite of services for clients in Europe. Release
> Specialty drug costs blew a $438 million hole in the California Public Employees' Retirement System budget, a 32% increase year-over-year; the amount represented one-fourth of its drug spending, dollarwise, though specialty drugs accounted for only 1% of prescriptions. Report
And Finally... Johnson & Johnson's ($JNJ) atypical antipsychotic Risperdal appears to trigger a well-known side effect--weight gain--by interfering with gut microbes, a new study suggests. Report