Amgen has negotiated 75 value-based contracts – agreements that SVP Josh Ofman sees as one area where biopharma and payer views are aligned. However, tension between the two sides remains high in pricing and reimbursement negotiations when it comes to rebates and other issues.

At least five biosimilars could gain US licensure in the coming year on first-cycle review, including subsequent competitors to Remicade and Humira; however, patent litigation is expected to increase and will continue to slow the march of products from FDA approval to commercialization.

With Entresto sales slowly climbing to $53m in third quarter, Novartis releases data supporting value of heart failure drug in preventing costly hospitalizations at the annual American Heart Association meeting.