Health Care Roundup: Market Talk

The latest Market Talks covering the Health Care sector. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.

0927 ET – GSK won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its blood-cancer drug Blenrep, securing a positive outcome in a decision that had been in doubt that is somewhat overshadowed by the medicine’s limited label, UBS analysts say. The FDA approved Blenrep as a third line of treatments—for adult patients who had received at least two prior therapies—, instead of the second line GSK was hoping for, UBS says. Moreover, patients require an ophthalmic exam before every dose, which will come as a disappointment for GSK, according to UBS. “Whilst it is a positive for GSK that Blenrep will return to the U.S. market, the smaller indication and stringent [risk evaluation and mitigation strategy] likely reduces the commercial opportunity,” the analysts say. Shares fall 1.1%. ([email protected])