For all of the biopharmaceutical industry’s concerns that drug pricing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act will stifle innovation, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its list of the first 10 drugs subject to Medicare negotiations under the IRA, the stock market reaction was “meh.” Biotechnology stock indices closed up on 29 August and most of the big pharma firms facing Medicare negotiations for the first time in 2026 closed a bit higher as well.
First Round Of Drugs Up For Medicare Negotiation Gets Soft Landing
Stock Market Shrugs; Biotechs Rise Slightly
Big pharma valuations mostly held steady as CMS released its list of the first 10 drugs subject to Medicare negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, which held few surprises and included products nearing the end of their patent lives by the time negotiated pricing takes effect.
More from Supply Chain
• By
Indian CDMOs could consider collaborating with allies in Europe amid a focused effort via a new industry body to counter existing challenges like China’s manufacturing, regulatory and policy advantages and a shortage of funding and talent in the country even as talk of US tariffs throws a new spoke in the wheel
• By
The company is building on its existing logistics and manufacturing for the radiopharmaceutical drug ITM-11, which delivered positive Phase III data.
• By
Patient demand for compounded versions of FDA-approved obesity drugs is unlikely to dissipate, even if semaglutide’s “shortage” status is resolved. The issue likely will continue to be a high-profile concern for the brand industry.
• By
A Zydus-Takeda joint venture is expected to supply more raw materials to the Japanese major. Meanwhile, a tie-up with CVS Caremark for the sitagliptin franchise is a boost for Zydus’s US sales while the company focuses R&D efforts on rare diseases like ALS and CAPS
More from Business
• By
Private Company Edition: The latest group of drug developers to announce venture capital financings is remarkable for its geographic diversity, from Character Biosciences’ $93m series B round in the US to Augustine’s $85m series B in Belgium to a $29.2m series C for Aculys in Japan.
• By
The head of the Spanish medical dermatology specialist told Scrip that maintaining the status quo will only result in the continent’s life sciences sector slipping further behind the US and China.
• By
Stakeholders are pleading for newly confirmed FDA Commissioner Martin Makary to stand up for the agency's high scientific standards and staff as he begins his term.