Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Vertex Cystic-Fibrosis Drug Slated For FDA Advisory Panel Consideration
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., one of biotechnology鈥檚 most richly valued companies, faces a big test Tuesday in proving it can become consistently profitable and live up to its $30 billion market capitalization. A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee will consider whether to recommend approval of Vertex鈥檚 experimental cystic-fibrosis drug, Orkambi, which analysts predict could help the company earn more than $8 billion in net profit over the next four years if it reaches the market. (Walker, 5/9)
Britain's GlaxoSmithKline, which decided last week to retain rather than float off its HIV drugs business, is to collaborate with U.S. scientists in developing a cure for AIDS. Until recently, many researchers were reluctant to even discuss the possibility of curing the disease caused by HIV, which infects 35 million people worldwide, since the obstacles seemed insurmountable. (Hirschler, 5/10)
