1. Pink Sheet
  2. >>Agency Leadership

Becerra Takes The Helm At HHS; More Visibility On Administration’s Drug Pricing Priorities To Follow

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Becerra’s HHS has a new crop of former Capitol Hill staffers in its policy ranks who are well versed on legislation in the health care realm, including prescription drug pricing reform. That will help advance the Administration’s agenda.

Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services Nominee in Washington D.C., Jan. 21, 2021
Becerra Has COVID-19 And The Affordable Care Act To Deal With But Has Pledged 'Swift' Action On Drug Pricing

US Health and Human Services Department Secretary Xavier Becerra’s approval by the Senate means we’ll begin to get more visibility into the Biden Administration’s plans for prescription drug pricing reform on the regulatory and legislative fronts. His nomination cleared the Senate on 18 March in a narrow 50-49 vote with support from just one Republican, Susan Collins of Maine.

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 Agency Leadership

Companies Advised To Assess Potential Impacts Of Landmark Global Pandemic Treaty

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

Mechanisms in the draft treaty that the more than 190 member states of the World Health Organization have finally agreed to are expected to “materially affect companies,” particularly those that develop, manufacture or distribute pandemic-related health care products.

FDA Leadership Shuffle Continues: Lowell Zeta Returns As OPDP, OGD Leaders Depart

 
• By Sue Sutter and Derrick Gingery

Lowell Zeta, a senior counselor at the FDA from 2020 to 2021, returns as deputy commissioner for strategic initiatives. The agency also names a new acting CIO and acting CVM director, but OGD's Ted Sherwood and OPDP's Catherine Gray retired.

US FDA’s Makary Floats Vague ‘Plausible Mechanism’ Approval Pathway For Rare Diseases

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

Ascertaining the novelty and benefits of Makary’s new drug approval idea – along with what it would take to implement it – requires more clarity on the types of studies he envisions being used to grant and confirm “plausible mechanism’ approvals.

US FDA Commissioner Makary Wants To Combine Adverse Event Reporting Systems

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

In discussing FDA’s adverse event monitoring, Makary also seemed to falsely imply the agency did not fully investigate the myocarditis signal with COVID-19 vaccines.

More from Pink Sheet

EMA To Consider Approvals For Eight Orphans, Including Vertex’s CF Drug Alyftrek

 
• By Francesca Bruce

The European Medicines Agency is this week expected issue opinions on whether the European Commission should grant EU marketing authorization for 19 new products.

Kiji CEO On EU HTA Regulation, Hospital Exemption And The Future Of ATMPs

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Miguel Forte, CEO of Kiji Therapeutics, tells the Pink Sheet why he is confident in the future of gene therapies, despite the global “turmoil” that is impacting investment in the industry and changes to the EU and US regulatory landscapes.

Companies Advised To Assess Potential Impacts Of Landmark Global Pandemic Treaty

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

Mechanisms in the draft treaty that the more than 190 member states of the World Health Organization have finally agreed to are expected to “materially affect companies,” particularly those that develop, manufacture or distribute pandemic-related health care products.