STAT+: Pharmalittle: Biogen CEO exits amid Aduhelm failures; FDA eschews its own outside expert panels
Rise and shine, everyone, another very busy day awaits. Even so, there is nothing like a pleasant morning to lift the spirits. A cool breeze and warm sun are enveloping the Pharmalot campus as we hunker down and sift through our ever-growing to-do list. A familiar exercise, yes? Well, time to get cracking. So please join us for a daily ritual: a few cups of stimulation. Our choice today is the ever-yummy butter pecan. And do keep us in mind if you hear something fascinating. Meanwhile, here are your tidbits. Dig in and have a grand day…
Biogen is replacing chief executive officer Michel Vounatsos, ending a five-year tenure in which he presided over the disastrous approval and rollout of its Alzheimer’s treatment, Aduhelm, STAT tells us. The company is also “substantially eliminating” all spending on Aduhelm just 10 months after securing U.S. approval — a concession from the struggling biotech that the drug had become a financial liability following a Medicare decision to restrict patient access and payment. Drug companies rarely stop marketing a new medicine voluntarily, which makes Biogen’s abandonment of Aduhelm an almost unprecedented setback.
Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…
