Partners Sanofi ($SNY) and Regeneron ($REGN) now have data in hand proving their atopic dermatitis candidate drug dupilumab can top placebo in clearing skin, reducing itching, and upping quality of life and mental health. The next step? Putting that data in to a regulatory package that the pair intends to submit to the FDA in the third quarter of this year. And if regulators are game, some optimistic analysts predict annual sales could soar up to $5 billion per year. More from FiercePharmaMarketing
@FiercePharma: Jaguar's loss doubles as it boosts R&D in support of top market contenders. More | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: #EMA finds big problems at India's Anuh Pharma Boisar plant. Story | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: Label surprise boosts Jazz as it preps Defitelio rollout. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> Drugmakers are lobbying against a proposal in Los Angeles County that would require companies to fund take-back programs designed to keep unused meds out of water supplies. Report
> United Therapeutics ($UTHR) and Supernus Pharmaceuticals ($SUPN) are suing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office over the expiration date on a patent covering a pulmonary hypertension med, Orenitram. Report
> The number of certified nurse practitioners has risen 35% over the past 5 years, creating a sizable base of new prescribers. Report
> Pfizer ($PFE) scored positive results for its PCSK9 inhibitor bococizumab in another late-stage trial; the company is racking up data to compete with Sanofi ($SNY) and Regeneron's ($REGN) Praluent and Amgen's ($AMGN) Repatha if bococizumab is approved. Release
> India nixed Novartis' ($NVS) application for a patent on its triple-combo hypertension treatment, which marries its first-in-class renin inhibitor, Tekturna, with two standard treatments, amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide. Report
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: ICYMI Friday: Cardiovascular Systems to trim 8% of its workforce in effort to return to profit. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev
@VarunSaxena2: PARTNER II trial showed noninferiority to surgery. Transfemoral patients showed superiority. (25% of patients were transapical.) | Follow @VarunSaxena2
> St. Jude touts favorable study of CardioMEMS heart failure monitor. Story
> Edwards up 13% on Sapien TAVR data in intermediate-risk heart patients. Article
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: Gilead bags early-stage NASH drug in $1.2B Nimbus deal. Report | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Trending nicely: Did Clovis play a deceptive game with rociletinib data in leadup to its PhIII stunner? Article | Follow @JohnCFierce
> A-listers provide a $50M B round to AstraZeneca's antibiotics spinout Entasis. Report
> Harvard, Tufts med students stage protest at 'biased' $2.9B drug development figure. Article
> VC-backed public offerings at lowest ebb since 2011. Item
Animal Health News
> Iowa researchers shed light on disease that causes lameness in cows. More
> Endangered orcas get their own personal health records. Item
> Jaguar's loss doubles as it boosts R&D in support of top market contenders. Report
> Lethal bat disease spreads across U.S. as wildlife experts scramble for clues. Story
> Virbac plans $37.9M expansion in MO, adding 144 animal health jobs. Article
Biotech IT News
> Bluebee pulls in $11M to advance cloud genome analysis platform. More
> Dassault Systèmes forms clinical trial tech pact with Inserm. Report
> Intel signs up Dana-Farber, Ontario Institute to cloud cancer data hub. Story
> PwC: Biopharma must turn to tech to address surge in data integrity violations. Article
> DNA testing service helps Ancestry land investment valuing business at $2.6B. News
Pharma Marketing News
> Allergy battle goes young as GSK's Flonase, Sanofi's Nasacort roll out kid-labeled OTC sprays. Report
> Drugmakers see no marketing leverage from FDA biosim guidelines. Story
> AstraZeneca's Brilinta sharpens marketing edge in new ACC/AHA guidelines. More
> GSK weighs 'staggered payments' for pricey gene therapy Strimvelis. Item
> Once again, Pharma beats all other industries with $1.5B in magazine ads. Article
And Finally... Novo Nordisk's ($NVO) diabetes and obesity med liraglutide--approved as Victoza and Saxenda, respectively--may reduce the brain's reward response to high-fat, high-calorie foods, a new study found. Report