Biogen Lou Gehrig’s disease drug fails in key trial

A pedestrian passes the sign outside the headquarters of Biogen Idec Inc. in Cambridge(Reuters) – An experimental drug to combat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease in the United States, failed to work in an important trial and Biogen Idec said it would stop development of the treatment. The drug, dexpramipexole, had shown promise and seemed to work against ALS in a mid-stage clinical trial in 2011, creating hope for patients suffering from the progressive, fatal disease, who currently have few options. Biogen shares, which rose 25 percent in 2012, fell 2 percent. …

France may curb use of riskier oral contraceptives

An illustration picture shows a blister-pack of birth control pills in NicePARIS (Reuters) – French health regulators are studying limiting the use of contraceptive pills that carry health risks and will stop reimbursing prescription costs of some types from March, after a woman sued drugmaker Bayer over alleged side-effects. An inquiry launched this week by the ANSM health regulator will review prescription practices by doctors, who it says may be over-prescribing higher-risk third and fourth-generation pills. …

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