FDA staff reviewers were supportive of the Remicade biosimilar from Celltrion ahead of next week's advisory committee meeting. The reviewers said that the drug is "highly similar" to the branded product in terms of safety, purity and potency. The drug from the South Korean company is already available in Europe and the U.K., where it has been selling well as wholesalers for the product have been discounting it deeply in a pricing battle with Pfizer's ($PFE) Hospira, which is also selling a version of the drug. Merck ($MRK), which sells Remicade outside of the U.S., recently said it would cut the price in the U.K. by 25% to better compete with biosimilars there. Story | More
@FiercePharma: Scientists pinpoint contributions pets can make to human medicine. FierceAnimalHealth story | Follow @FiercePharma
@EricPFierce: ICYMI from FiercePharmaManufacturing: Teva is adding 20 jobs at UK plant, but only after cutting 80 as it looks for different skills. Article | Follow @EricPFierce
@CarlyHFierce: Blockbuster new launches coming from Intercept, Gilead and Merck: Reuters. Article | Follow @CarlyHFierce
> Amgen ($AMGN) CIO and Executive VP Diana McKenzie is leaving the biotech after 12 years to become the first CIO at cloud enterprise software maker Workday ($WDAY). Story
> Bristol-Myers Squibb's ($BMY) Opdivo has been added to England's early access program, allowing some patients with non-squamous forms of non-small lung cancer the opportunity for treatment ahead of its official approval. Report
> A new government report is sharply critical of the way England's Department of Health and NHS England have managed the Cancer Drugs Fund, saying they have failed to control costs and improve access to treatments for rare cancers. Story
Medical Device News
@FierceMedDev: IYCMI yesterday: FDA OKs use of Medtronic's CoreValve TAVR on end-stage renal disease patients. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev
@EmilyWFierce: Valeant, Turing slammed for price hikes during congressional hearing. More from FiercePharma | Follow @EmilyWFierce
> Scientists call for development of quick Zika tests as epidemic rages on. Story
> Cellnovo partners with TypeZero in major NIH-backed artificial pancreas trial in Type 1 diabetics. Article
Biotech News
@FierceBiotech: FierceBiotech Radio on Gilead's wide-open future, biotech's long winter and Sanofi's ongoing makeover. More/Subscribe | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: Hey, we got a picture to add to our #JPM16 apology piece. From a Roth party. Check it out. Story | Follow @JohnCFierce
> French investigators to Biotrial: You should have stopped fatal study earlier. Story
> OncoGenex slashes 27% of its payroll as its pipeline promise fades. Report
> Shire's self-described blockbuster eye drug lines up for FDA do-over. Article