United States

Health Care Industry Reels After UnitedHealthcare CEO Is Killed Outside NYC Hotel

 
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The motive for the shocking murder of Brian Thompson in New York City was still unknown Wednesday afternoon.

Metabolic And Endocrine Therapies Could Star Among US FDA’s Last 2024 Approvals

 

The December calendar features nearly 20 user fee goal dates, from Novo Nordisk’s Alhemo to Lexicon’s Zynquista.

340B Plan B: Pharma Pivots To Rebate Pricing Model After Pharmacy Restrictions Fall Short

 
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The manufacturer dispute with hospitals and US agency tasked with overseeing the outpatient drug discount program is entering a new phase.

As ‘Carveout’ Debate Continues, States Try Hybrid Approach to Medicaid Rx Benefits

 
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Scant evidence has emerged proving that carving out retail pharmacy benefit management from Medicaid managed care organization contracts helps limit costs.


US FDA Revises Guidance Best Practices, Declines Detailed Public Comment Summaries

 
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The agency also will not expand the guidance categories that may be issued “for immediate implementation” without prior public comment, but more guidance documents could be issued in Q&A or bulleted formats, the agency said.

Can US FDA Dodge DOGE? Return To Office Mandate May Be Biggest Hit

 

The incoming Trump Administration’s “Department Of Government Efficiency” has big plans for sweeping cuts to the federal bureaucracy and regulation. The US FDA likely will feel some effects, but could avoid the most damaging mandates.

Gene Therapy And Secondary Malignancies: Integration Site Analysis Can Only Be Part Of The Answer

 

The US FDA seeks to better understand and predict insertional mutagenesis in gene therapies like bluebird bio's Skysona, which use integrating viral vectors, but a workshop on integration site analysis highlighted the approach's complexity and limitations.

The Good, The Bad, And The Uncertain: Trump’s Second Administration And The Rx Industry

 
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The pharma industry arguably suffered none of the possible downside risks during the first Trump Administration, but its relationship with Biden could not have been much worse. And while sponsors may hope a Trump return could improve their fortunes, having Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supervising the FDA is likely not the prescription they prefer.


A Hostile Takeover Of US FDA?

 

The expected nominee for FDA commissioner has not been very kind to the agency in his public statements and President-elect Donald Trump appears to be urging him to shake things up.

Gene Therapy: Lyfgenia Voucher Denial Puts Sickle Cell Treatment At Risk, Bluebird Bio Says

 
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The company said its financial viability is in jeopardy, along with patient access to Lyfgenia, if US FDA Commissioner Robert Califf does not reverse the denial of a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher.

Trump 2.0: India Pharma On A Good Wicket?

 

US President-elect Donald Trump’s second term is seen in general as “bad news” for Asia, especially China, by some analysts. But the outlook for India pharma appears upbeat, says a cross-section of experts.

Cautious Optimism For US FDA Commissioner Nominee’s Self-Professed Data Driven Approach

 

Martin Makary prides himself on following the data, but some health policy experts said his positions sometimes stray from or distort the evidence, which could create trust issues.


‘Hard Truths’ For Sentinel: US FDA Scales Back Active Surveillance Ambitions

 
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The agency will focus less on new capabilities and more on meeting explicit mandates for the Sentinel active surveillance system, in part due to budgetary realities.

Obesity Med Coverage In Medicare And Medicaid: A Late Gift By Biden To Pharma

 
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Proposed rule on GLP-1s sets up an expensive benefit that would need to be implemented (or rejected) by the incoming Trump administration. Move suggests the next round of drugs subject to Medicare price-setting will include Novo’s semaglutide – and could be announced by the Biden team before they leave.

US FDA Commissioner Nominee Not ‘Pro-Industry Choice,’ GLP-1 Compounding Could Be First Clash

 

Martin Makary’s ties to a compounder and telehealth company offering compounded GLP-1s may concern the drug industry and raise questions about his fundamental beliefs in the FDA’s role regulating drug manufacturing.

Potential FDA Positions In The Political Crosshairs

 

Numerous staff positions at the US FDA could be the target of incoming administration efforts to remake the federal bureaucracy.


Califf: Sponsors Should Go Beyond Letter Of Law With Trial Diversity Plans

 

The FDA Commissioner wants sponsors to incorporate diversity into their development programs prior to Phase III.

Marks Believes Trump Team Will Not Threaten US FDA’s Medicines Expertise

 

The US FDA’s Peter Marks told the Jefferies meeting that scientific leadership will be protected and that the agency wants to do more to help the sector accelerate innovation.

Diabetes Endpoints: A1C Reduction Is ‘Still Enough,’ Just Not For Lexicon’s Sotagliflozin, US FDA Says

 
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The agency reaffirmed support for a hemoglobin A1C endpoint for glycemic control in type 1 diabetes, but the diabetic ketoacidosis risk with sotagliflozin is so concerning that it is looking for additional benefits in patients with chronic kidney disease, a targeted subpopulation.

Pink Sheet Podcast: Trump’s Potential Impact On FDA User Fees, Dr. Oz’s Potential Impact On CMS

Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss concerns that the incoming administration could try to influence the upcoming FDA user fee reauthorization, as well as the changes Dr. Mehmet Oz, President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial selection to run the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, could impose if confirmed.