STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Boehringer biosimilar frustrations, FTC warnings, and more
And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is still shaping up, but we expect to catch up on our reading, promenade extensively with our official mascots, and hold another listening party with Mrs. Pharmalot. The rotation will likely include this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? If it is true that spring has sprung — and we are still awaiting definitive evidence — you might want to enjoy the great outdoors and watch the trees and flowers slowly come to life. If huddling inside your castle is preferable, there is always the option of staring at the telly and binge-watching a few things. Or if you prefer old-fashioned contact sports, reach out to someone special. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
Boehringer Ingelheim will lay off an undisclosed number of sales reps due to poor U.S. sales of its biosimilar version of AbbVie’s blockbuster arthritis treatment Humira, STAT reports. The drugmaker will switch to a hybrid model that mixes in-person and virtual sales by June 30, in large part because pharmacy benefit managers kept Humira on their formularies. That led to less uptake of biosimilar versions of Humira in the U.S., including Boehringer’s Cyltezo. Boehringer launched Cyltezo last July but has only managed to sell 1,487 prescriptions, according to IQVIA data. Almost 2.8 million Humira prescriptions have been written during that time.
An unprecedented crisis looms in India over supplies of injectable poliomyelitis vaccine, or IPV — a crucial tool in efforts to eradicate polio — now that Sanofi has shut its manufacturing plants in the country, The Economic Times reports. Sanofi, which is a leading supplier of the vaccine, ceased production of its IPV vaccine in December 2023, triggering concerns among health experts about an imminent supply disruption that may hobble the country’s most ambitious immunization campaign. IPV is made by only two companies — Sanofi Pasteur and Serum Institute of India, which started its supplies in 2021. Sanofi is believed to cater to over 80% of India’s IPV dose requirements.
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