Pricing Debate

Sanofi is the last of three big insulin makers to offer its top-selling insulin at the same out-of-pocket cost regardless of patients’ insurance coverage, but calls for other health care players to make concessions as well.

Pharma business development executives and venture capital investors shared their thoughts on the Inflation Reduction Act at Biocom’s Global Life Science Partnering and Investor Conference in San Diego.

The drug pricing watchdog said in its revised report that Alzheimer’s therapy Leqembi (lecanemab) meets cost-effectiveness thresholds at $8,900-$21,500, below Eisai/Biogen’s $26,500 list price.

Some biotech leaders say IRA policies don’t feel consequential yet, though small companies could face impacts from R&D and M&A decision making at big pharmas.

In this week's podcast version of Five Must-Know Things: Merck & Co. tells Scrip oncology will remain a key priority; J&J is responsibly cautious on growth; Takeda pays big for HutchMed drug; industry looks at likely US IRA impact; and lecanemab misses out on EU fast-track treatment.

In this week's podcast version of Five Must-Know Things: the best of J.P. Morgan; Novartis on its US-first commercial plan; Chugai CEO talks to Scrip on the Roche alliance and more; Scrip Asks what this year holds for pricing and reimbursement; and the global outlook for biopharma funding.

Industry leaders are concerned about the outlook for small molecule drugs in particular, but execs at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference were also optimistic there could be chances to shape the implementation of certain policies.

While the implications of the US Inflation Reduction Act are the focus of the sector’s concern this year, another regulatory development will impact earnings sooner.

Biopharma executives see value-based pricing as an increasingly important topic for the sector in 2023, while the US Inflation Reduction Act will have a major impact on portfolio strategies.

Timing big M&A transactions to coincide with the biggest investor conference of the year is difficult. But getting it right can boost stocks across the sector.

Headwinds of political instability, violent conflict, inflation and recession accompany us into 2023. Scrip surveyed industry leaders on the impacts for biopharma.

The past couple of years have generated important growth for the pharma industry thanks to its drugs and vaccines for COVID-19. But with the IRA, high inflation, rising interest rates and chilly public markets, biopharma faces challenges this year. Here, we summarize key messages from In Vivo’s Outlook 2023.