From clinical trials to in-person sales calls, the pharmaceutical value chain has been tested by the COVID-19 pandemic, but has held up. Nevertheless, recent friction within this chain may be more than a passing irritation.

Lilly’s second-quarter earnings announcement relegated its core business in favor of its experimental Alzheimer’s disease drug. This diverted attention away from competitive reimbursement challenges that may be affecting its insulin business.

Meena Seshamani served in the Obama Administration as head of the health reform office within the Health and Human Services Department.

Sponsors of several new medicines, including the first ever CAR-T for multiple myeloma, will find out this week if their products are on track to get EU marketing authorizations. Also, three sponsors might be asked to address outstanding issues about their products in the final stages of review.