Is There An ‘October Surprise’ Coming For Drug Pricing?

US Congressional Democrats made Halloween the new deadline for President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, to be passed through the reconciliation process. Savings generated from prescription drug price cuts represent a key pot of money to offset the legislation’s other spending initiatives.

jack-o-lantern
• Source: Alamy

Negotiations are ongoing between various factions of the democratic party, in both the House and the Senate, with the goal of passing the Build Back Better Act by a self-imposed deadline of 31 October. House legislation placed an initial price tag of $3.5tn on the package, but the Senate is likely to cut that figure down to around $2tn, said Ryan Urgo, managing director, health policy, Avalere Health, during a 15 October webcast.

Drug pricing legislation is expected to be a part of the final bill. The question of the moment is whether...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Market Intelligence

PBMs Tighten The Reins: Value Becomes The New Access Gatekeeper

 
• By 

Facing rising costs and tighter regulations, PBMs and insurers are accelerating the shift to value-based drug coverage, demanding stronger proof of therapeutic and economic benefit from pharma.

Financing Quarterly Statistics, Q2 2025

 
• By 

During Q2, biopharmas brought in an aggregate $17.5bn in financing and device company fundraising totaled $2.7bn; while in vitro diagnostic firms and research tools players raised $1.7bn

When VC Steps Back: Finding Alternative Biotech Funding

 
• By 

The biotech funding landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift. With traditional VC becoming increasingly cautious and selective, industry executives are exploring new avenues for capital. Conversely, this evolution may ultimately benefit the sector's long-term sustainability.

Navigating the GLP-1 Opportunity In China: Strategic Imperatives For Western Pharma

 
• By 

The Chinese appetite for GLP-1s is noticeable. While the market opportunity for western pharma is huge, so are the strategic market access challenges, though not unsurmountable, L.E.K. Consulting told In Vivo.

More from In Vivo

video
Sponsored by:

Meeting the demands of the global biologics market

Lonza is addressing the growing global demand for biologics by utilizing its expert teams and the advanced capabilities of its newly acquired large-scale manufacturing site in Vacaville, California. Joanna McCafferty, Director of Commercial Development, shares more in this brief video. Ask ChatG

Mapping The Power And Potential Of Europe’s Market Access Collaborations

 
• By 

Understand who’s influencing access decisions and how pharma can engage strategically across the continent.

Infographic: How Big Pharma Is Scaling Beyond Pilot AI Projects

 
• By 

Pharma leaders are shifting from AI pilots to enterprise-scale deployment, favoring external partnerships for efficiency gains while maintaining tight control over sensitive clinical data.