Pricing Debate

In this week's podcast edition of Five Must-Know Things: Teva’s immunology biosimilar launches; Intra-Cellular’s promising depression data; Phase III sleep apnea win for Lilly’s tirzepatide; an interview with Viking’s CEO; and China looks to define innovative drugs.

The British drug maker’s move follows that of Boehringer Ingelheim earlier this month, which itself followed increasing political scrutiny on out-of-pocket costs.

As drug pricing continues its ascent among hot button issues, the multi-million-dollar price tags for one-and-done advanced therapies, their justification and reimbursement all remain unaligned.

Biopharma veteran Ted Love assured industry that the sector remains fundamentally strong during remarks at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference.

Paul Hudson told Scrip that while the EU's prioritization on matters such as boosting hydrogen use and electric car batteries was laudable, delivery of healthcare and the innovation associated with it should be "a strategic imperative."

The pricing watchdog said 94% of Fabhalta’s price comes from offsetting the cost of AstraZeneca’s Ultomiris, while Novartis said ICER’s analysis has “substantial challenges.”

As use of new obesity medicines become more widespread, experts at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference predicted that paying for them will stress state governments and employers.

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review’s new president talked to Scrip in an interview about cell and gene therapy, obesity drugs and the new Medicare drug price negotiation program.

2023 saw a number of gene therapy companies go to the wall, but those that can combine clinical significance and commercial success can build sustainable businesses.

An uptick in deals and an improving macro-economic outlook laid the groundwork for a rosier sentiment across much of the industry at the annual health care conference.

Humira topped ICER’s list of drugs with unsupported price increases that added the most cost to the US health care system during 2022, its last year before biosimilars hit the US market.

As the president’s reelection campaign themes take shape, the administration is preparing to leverage NIH patents in ways it had previously eschewed. As with the merger oversight effort, though, the germs of the plans began earlier in Biden’s tenure.

 In this week's podcast edition of Five Must-Know Things: Bayer’s Phase III failure; US group seeks Japan changes; AstraZeneca winning AKT race for now; NASH developments at AASLD; and the Q3 impact of China’s corruption campaign.

Pointing to what it says is decreased R&D in Japan in contrast to the global market, PhRMA has again urged the country to revise its drug pricing policies and support innovation, while cautiously welcoming new moves to waive a requirement for Phase I trials in the country.

CEO Pascal Soriot fielded questions on a wide range of topics – from China to US Medicare drug price negotiations – at a media briefing in New York City.

In its third annual report on fair access to prescription drugs, the US pricing watchdog found high concordance with some of its recommended policies, but thinks greater transparency is needed for a thorough assessment.