Tag Archives: NA

Dexcom G6 Medicare Availability in Early 2019; New Data Partnership with Validic

Dexcom announced the G6 CGM will be available to Medicare patients starting early 2019. Additionally, Dexcom has entered into an agreement with Validic to integrate Dexcom CGM data into Validic’s data connectivity platform, called Validic Inform, which streams data from in-home connected devices into HCP systems. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on G6 Medicare availability as well as reasons why the Validic partnership makes sense for Dexcom.

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New Ozempic “Real-World Pragmatic Study” with Anthem

Novo Nordisk and Anthem’s outcomes research subsidiary, HealthCore, announced they are working together on a “real-world pragmatic study” (called SEPRA as in SEmaglutide PRAgmatic) evaluating Ozempic vs. standard of care (defined as commercially available oral or injectable antidiabetic medication other than semaglutide). The study initiated in July 2018 and is currently recruiting patients. Below, FENIX provides insight into potential motivating factors for Novo conducting the study (e.g. pilot for an outcomes-based contract).

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Abbott and Roche Q3 ’18 Earnings Updates

Abbott and Roche held their Q3 ’18 earnings calls and provided updates on their diabetes businesses. Of note, Abbott disclosed it has reached >1M global Libre users, which is ahead of their YE ’18 goal. No updates were provided on US launch timings for Abbott Libre 2 or Roche Solomicro pump. Below are highlights from the respective events.

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MannKind Receives Warning for Afrezza Facebook Promo

FDA’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) issued a letter to MannKind claiming misleading/false advertising for Afrezza Facebook posts. According to the letter, on February 9 and March 19, 2018, MannKind posted advertisements on Facebook that made “false or misleading claims and/or representations about the risks associated with Afrezza by suggesting that there are no safety concerns associated with the use of the drug.” The Facebook posts have since been deleted. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on the warning letter including any potential impact to the Afrezza brand.

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J&J Q3 ’18 Earnings Update

J&J hosted its Q3 ’18 earnings call but only briefly discussed the Invokana franchise. Senior management did not comment on the CANVAS/R review which is anticipated this month. Recall, in July 2018, J&J announced FDA extended the CANVAS/R sNDA review by 3 months. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on the CANVAS review as well as potential read-through from Lilly’s Ph2b dual agonist results to J&J’s dual agonist, JNJ-64565111.

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AZ’s Head of CVRM Joins Novo

Novo Nordisk announced Ludovic Helfgott (pictured below), current global head of AZ’s CV, renal, and metabolism (CVRM), is joining Novo as the Executive VP of Biopharm. According to the press release, Helfgott will join Novo effective April 3, 2019 at which point Jesper Brandgaard, current head of Novo Biopharm and well-known former CFO, will retire. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on Helfgott’s appointment and potential future impact to Novo as well as an analysis of how the Biopharm position could help Helfgott’s career.

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Novo’s Onset 7 Fulfills Pediatric Post-Marketing Commitment

Today at the 2018 ISPAD congress, Novo Nordisk presented data from Onset 7, the first study evaluating Fiasp (faster-acting insulin aspart) in pediatric/adolescent patients. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on the ultra-rapid-acting (uRAI) market, the use of these agents in pediatric T1DM patients, and Onset 7 in the context of Fiasp’s post-approval pediatric commitment.

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Tidepool to Support Loop; New Study on Insulin Variability in US Pharmacies

JDRF, ADA, and the Helmsley charitable trust awarded a grant for a study evaluating the variability of insulin potency in US pharmacies. Additionally, Tidepool recently announced a program to support the DIY Loop automated insulin-delivery project through an FDA-regulated manner. Below, FENIX provides a brief overview and thoughts on each new project, including Tidepool’s potential motivation.

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Merck Cancels Bs-glargine Agreement with Samsung

Merck has reportedly asked Samsung Bioepis to cancel their development and commercialization deal for biosimilar glargine. The report comes from a filing with the Korean stock exchange. While it remains unknown, this news may signal Merck’s intention to abandon the global commercialization of its bs-glargine. According to the filing, Merck has offered to pay $155M to Samsung to end the contract. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on potential reasons to cancel the deal as well as read-through to the other basal insulin manufacturers.

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New ADA/EASD Guidelines Recommend GLP-1RA Over Insulin and Make Other New H2H Drug Recommendations

ADA and EASD have updated their T2DM consensus guidelines (journal publication) with notable changes to the framework of the treatment algorithm (pictured below). Now, the algorithm takes a patient-centric approach and suggests a stepwise methodology based on the highest priority for the patient (ASCVD, CKD, hypoglycemia minimization, weight loss, and cost). Importantly, the guidelines recommend the use of GLP-1RA over insulin as the first injectable therapy as well as other in-class H2H drug recommendations. Below, FENIX provides a winners-and-losers analysis, highlights of the guideline updates, and how the identified knowledge gaps may be addressed.

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