Novartis Demands Outside Counsel Make Tough Diversity Guarantees

Bloomberg Law | February 13, 2020

Novartis AG is demanding that its 22 “preferred” Big Law firms make specific diverse staffing commitments for each engagement with the pharma giant or face punishment in the form of reduced payments. Through the new program announced on Wednesday, Novartis is also requiring its outside counsel to commit that at least 30% of billable associate time and 20% of partner time will be provided by women, racially or ethnically diverse professionals, or members of the LGBT community. If firms don’t meet their agreed-upon staffing commitments on particular matters, the Basel, Switzerland-based company will withhold 15% of the total amount billed over the life of that matter, it said in a statement.

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Spotlight

In this third EPR Training video, Bruker scientists will walk you through how to install an automated goniometer for the Magnettech ESR5000. You will also receive an introduction to data acquisition and processing with our user-friendly software.

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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMA TECH

Indivior Announces Its Successful Acquisition of Opiant Pharmaceuticals

Indivior | March 06, 2023

Indivior PLC, a global pharmaceutical company, recently announced its successful acquisition of Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The acquisition strengthens Indivior's addiction treatment and science portfolio by adding Opiant's late-stage assets. In particular, OPNT003, an investigational opioid overdose treatment, aims to provide an effective treatment option to address the current wave of opioid overdose caused by powerful synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Indivior acquired Opiant for an upfront consideration of $20.00 per share in cash, summing to approximately $145 million and up to $8.00 per share in contingent value rights (CVRs). The CVRs will become payable if OPNT003 meets certain net revenue milestones within seven years after approval and launch. The acquisition was completed after meeting customary conditions, and Indivior funded the upfront consideration with its existing cash. It expects OPNT003 to generate net revenue of 150 million to 250 million dollars and the acquisition to be earnings accretive after the second year of launch. The company plans to provide updated guidance for FY 2023 with its Q1 results announcement on April 27, 2023. OPNT003 is a patent-protected intranasal formulation of nalmefene. It employs an absorption-enhancing technology to improve its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile, resulting in a fast-acting and long-lasting duration of action that helps OPNT003 as a possible new treatment option for opioid overdose. On December 22, 2022, Opiant completed its rolling NDA for OPNT003. OPNT003's FDA PDUFA date is May 22, 2023. One formulation patent (expiry 2038) and five other patent applications cover various aspects of OPNT003, including treatment methods. National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is funding the development of the program, as well as an agreement from Biological Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). About Indivior A global pharmaceutical company, Indivior, is working to support patients in changing their lives by developing medicines that help in coming out of addiction and severe mental illnesses. The company aims to provide access to evidence-based treatment to all patients globally for chronic conditions and co-occurring disorders of substance use disorder (SUD). It is committed to transforming substance use disorder from a worldwide human crisis to a recognized and treated chronic illness. In addition, it has a pipeline of product candidates designed to build on its global portfolio of OUD treatments and potentially address other chronic conditions and co-occurring disorders of SUD, such as alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder.

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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMACY MARKET

Shields Health Solutions Increases Specialty Pharmacy Services Nationwide

Shields Health Solutions | January 12, 2023

Shields Health Solutions (ShieldsRx), one of the leading specialty pharmacy accelerators, informed that the company has now collaborated with more than 850 hospitals at over 75 health systems after adding four more health systems. ShieldsRx health system partners are well-positioned to improve therapy management and care coordination for critical patients, improving outcomes through high-quality care. Its health systems serve 1 million patients in 44 states. Matt Conway, Chief Commercial Growth Officer of ShieldsRx stated, "As the foremost expert in health system specialty pharmacy, Shields has proven successful in partnering with health system leaders to develop integrated programs that deliver superior experiences and outcomes for complex patients." He further stated, "Not only do these programs deliver measurable clinical results but integrating specialty pharmacy within the health system also creates the net operating income health systems need to succeed. These proven clinical and financial results are why so many leading health systems trust Shields to elevate access, outcomes and growth within specialty pharmacy." (Source- PRNewswire) ShieldsRx's expansion with new health system partnerships includes MyMichigan Health: Midland-based MyMichigan Health serves 25 counties. Its urgent care, home health, virtual care, and medical offices offer a broad spectrum of care in over 30 specialties and subspecialties. Nemours Children's Health: Nemours Children's Health, the nation's most extensive multistate pediatric health system, has two free-standing children's hospitals and over 70 general and specialized care practices. Solution Health: Phoenix Children's Care Network, Arizona's leading children's hospital, offers over 1,175 pediatric primary care professionals and specialists in over 75 subspecialties. Traditional specialty pharmacy patients had to tackle administrative difficulties like prior authorization and expensive medical bills alone. Shields' expansion facilitated value-based reimbursement. About Shields Health Solutions Shields Health Solutions is a leading specialized pharmacy accelerator. Its Performance Platform is designed to improve payer and drug access for specialty pharmacies, improve health outcomes for complex patients, and promote growth across the entire health system. The company has access to over 80% of limited distribution medications (LDDs) and major health insurance payers in the U.S. along with a clinical strategy that lowers the total cost of treatment by 13%. ShieldsRx has collaborated with more than 70 health systems to deliver measurable clinical and financial benefits.

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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMACY MARKET

Massive Bio and NeoGenomics Announce Collaboration to Accelerate Oncology Drug Discovery and Improve Patient Care

Businesswire | March 27, 2023

Massive Bio, Inc., a private AI-enabled oncology startup that provides virtual and in-person concierge services for cancer patients, and NeoGenomics, Inc. a leading provider of cancer-focused genetic testing services and global oncology contract research services, today announced a collaboration with the goal of accelerating the development of new cancer therapies and ultimately improving the lives of millions of cancer patients around the world. NeoGenomics will identify patients in real time who may be eligible for clinical trials based on biomarker status. Following initial contact and outreach provided directly from NeoGenomics to the treating physician, Massive Bio will help obtain patient consent and expediate additional screening and potential enrollment. This partnership will help to quickly identify patients eligible for clinical trials and help patients and providers make an informed decision regarding their potential treatment avenue. By combining their respective strengths in biomarker testing, data analysis, machine learning, and biomarker and genomic profiling, the collaboration between NeoGenomics and Massive Bio have achieved a significant milestone in the oncology industry. "Our mission at Massive Bio is to provide cancer patients with the best possible care and treatment options,” said Selin Kurnaz, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Massive Bio. “By partnering with NeoGenomics, a leading player in the cancer diagnostics industry that shares Massive Bio’s commitment to advancing cancer research and improving patient outcomes, we can leverage their expertise in oncology diagnostics to accelerate the identification of patients who may be eligible for clinical trials." “NeoGenomics’ advanced diagnostic tools and U.S. footprint, combined with Massive Bio's AI capabilities and concierge services in oncology, will enable us to match patients to clinical trials faster and more efficiently, resulting in improved outcomes and reduced costs,” said Vishal Sikri, President of the Advanced Diagnostics Division of NeoGenomics. “We are thrilled to partner with Massive Bio to advance precision medicine and improve the delivery of healthcare services to patients, pharmaceutical partners, and healthcare providers." Dr. Arturo Loaiza-Bonilla, MD, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Massive Bio, added, "This collaboration between NeoGenomics and Massive Bio will enable us to provide patients with personalized care and support throughout their cancer journey, and move the needle forward in precision oncology and research." AboutMassive Bio Massive Bio empowers cancer patients to find their best treatment options, using artificial intelligence to improve equitable access and precision targeting for clinical trial matching, drug matching, and drug development. Massive Bio combines its best-in-class AI platform with technology-enabled services to remove barriers in clinical trial enrollment, value-based oncology decisions, and data-driven cancer treatment. The company serves more than two dozen pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and hospital networks, and has been awarded an SBIR contract by the National Cancer Institute. Massive Bio was founded in 2015 by clinical, technology, and M&A executives, and has a global presence with nearly 100 people in 12 countries.

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