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US Government Keeps Lights On But Pharma Priorities For PBM Reform, Rare Diseases Nixed

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The FDA will stay open, but its rare disease priority review voucher program will wind down after not being renewed on 20 December. PBM reform and other industry priorities also were nixed at the last minute in an effort to avoid a government shutdown.

US Capitol at sunset.
Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown, but pharma priorities were cut from the bill. (Shutterstock)
Key Takeaways
  • Congress narrowly avoided shutting the US government down when it cleared funding legislation late on 20 December.
  • The final spending bill, which extends government funding through March, dropped key drug industry priorities, including PBM reform, pediatric and rare disease items and pandemic prep programs.
  • It is unclear whether Congress will revisit the issues in 2025.

The US Food and Drug Administration’s lights remain on, but pharma industry priorities were shut out in a spending bill cleared by the US Congress...

The spending bill ensured the US government avoided a shutdown during the holiday season, but the agreement to fund the FDA and other agencies through 14 March 2025 did not...

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