Winners and Losers In Democrat’s Mega Social Spending Package

Industry almost certain to avoid its worst pricing reform fears, but some post-exclusivity drugs may still be subject to negotiations under the most recent iteration of Build Back Better. Meanwhile, rare disease development incentives get cut and new funding is doled out for FDA.

Capitol_Water_Reflection — Drug negotiation provisions are so far absent from the current working version of the build back better legislation, a reflection of the power of pharma industry lobbying. • Source: Alamy

The framework for US President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, HR 5376, that went through the House Rules Committee on 28 October signifies a big win for the pharmaceutical industry as the draft drops Democrat’s attempt to allow the government to negotiate the cost of drugs. While there are ongoing discussions to try to get some drug pricing legislation back into the $1.75 trillion spending deal, this near-final version looks to be a more industry-friendly package.

From drug pricing to manufacturing to pandemic prep and US Food and Drug Administration modernization, the Pink Sheet went through...