1. Pink Sheet

HHS Nominee Azar: Great News For Industry But ACA Reform Will Be Priority

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Insurance practices are a big driver of drug pricing problems, according to Azar, a former Lilly exec who spent six years at HHS under George W. Bush, providing him valuable experience in department operations.

HHS Building_1200

If any more proof is needed, Trump's nomination of former Eli Lilly & Co.executive Alex Azar to become HHS secretary should confirm the Administration is not planning to take on the industry over drug pricing, despite the president's rhetoric.

Azar spent 10 years as an executive at the Big Pharma and is expected to be an even stronger industry ally at HHS than his predecessor, Tom Price

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet 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
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Pricing Debate

More from Market Access

Pharma Predicts Modest Tariff Impact, Depending On What Comes Next

 
• By Jessica Merrill

Drugmakers are not expecting a big financial hit from tariffs for now, but a report commissioned by the industry trade association PhRMA suggests a potentially steep cost for pharma-sector tariffs.

US FDA Not Industry’s ‘Sock Puppet,’ Ultragenyx’s Emil Kakkis Says

 
• By Sue Sutter

The biotech CEO said the Trump Administration’s treatment of FDA employees, including the HHS secretary’s comments about industry capture, are insulting to agency staff, but he is encouraged by FDA Commissioner Martin Makary’s talk of a new conditional approval pathway.

Raising Drug Prices In The EU Could Take Years, Even If Pharma Effort Succeeds

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Manufacturers are engaging the European Commission and individual countries to allocate more health care spending to innovative medicines and align prices more closely to those in the US.