EU HTA Regulation: Don’t Forget About Vaccines, Industry Warns

 

Europe’s vaccines industry wants to make sure immunizations “are not forgotten” by policymakers who are overseeing the EU Health Technology Assessment Regulation. It has highlighted several nuances of vaccines that should be addressed over the coming years.

Medicare Price Negotiation: Trump Order Adds Momentum To ‘Pill Penalty’ Fix

 
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Wide-ranging executive order to lower drug prices also hints at changes in upcoming guidance on the Medicare price negotiation program but few other potentially impactful near-term actions.

Leqembi Launch Set For Germany & Austria After Winning EU Approval At Last

 

Eisai is working on securing reimbursement across the EU for Leqembi now that the Alzheimer’s disease treatment has secured marketing approval from the European Commission.

African Medicines Agency Set To Launch With New Leader In April

 

The African Medicines Agency is to appoint a director general and become operational at the end of this month.


EU Regulators Push For Better Support For Sponsors On Using Animal Study Alternatives

 

The European Medicines Agency’s innovation network has recommended how the EU’s regulatory framework could be updated to support drug developers in using new approach methodologies, which are drug testing methods that reduce or replace animal studies.

GLP-1 Drug Coverage Growing For Obesity In Medicaid, But Only For Diabetes In Medicare

 
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Coverage data from the two programs suggest Medicare beneficiaries may be more disappointed than Medicaid enrollees by the Trump Administration’s decision not to mandate the programs cover obesity drugs.

New Medicare Negotiation Program ‘Iterations’ Inevitable, Former CMS Official Blum Says

 
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Jonathan Blum, who was principal deputy administrator during the Biden Administration, explained the agency’s approach to setting up the price negotiation program and said changes likely will be implemented by the Trump Administration.

New Medicines Pricing Proposals Would Mean More Uncertainty For Spanish Supply Chains

 

Proposals to reform Spain’s reference pricing system are out of whack with the national pharmaceutical strategy published in December, six industry associations have warned.


Pipeline To Product – What Is Driving Cell And Gene Therapy Progress In India?

 
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US-based Colossal Labs has claimed to bring back the dire wolf from extinction. While the science is not as dramatic in India yet, cell and gene therapies are making progress as treatments for cancer and other diseases. Pink Sheet takes a look at what is driving CGT success and growth.

Lilly Targets Sale Of Repackaged, Redosed Zepbound, Mounjaro In Lawsuit

 
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Eli Lilly is seeking an injunction barring a weight loss clinic from dispensing modified versions of its GLP-1 products.

UK Health Secretary Admits VPAG ‘More Expensive’ Than Expected & Needs To Be ‘Resolved’

 

The UK government has listened to industry concerns about high clawback rates under the voluntary scheme and will review it in June in a bid to resolve the issue and “move on to bigger and more important things,” health secretary Wes Streeting says.

Trump Tariffs: Indian Pharma Dodges Bullet, But Sword May Remain

 
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Trump announced a 26% reciprocal tariff on India, but a country-agnostic exemption of pharmaceuticals implies that the interests of Indian firms are protected for now. What is Indian pharma’s business exposure and what is domestic industry saying?


Dr. Oz Takes Over CMS Amid Major Transformation Of Medicare Part D

 
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As CMS administrator, Mehmet Oz will oversee the second cycle of Medicare drug price negotiations and Part D redesign issues, but will have experienced deputies to help.

Early Randomization Among Advice On How To Meet Both EMA & HTA Needs

 

Newly published insights from a series of European Medicines Agency workshops can guide drug developers in designing development plans that meet the needs of both regulators and health technology assessment bodies.

AI Could Be Used ‘In The Deliberation’ Of HTA Reviews In England, Says NICE

 

England’s health technology assessment institute, NICE, is looking to “reimagine” its evaluation process with the help of AI, rather than just using this technology to speed up its existing processes.

Dramatic HHS Layoffs A Response To ‘Existential Crisis,’ Kennedy Advisor Argues

 
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Calley Means defended reductions in force at the Health and Human Services Department that shocked and outraged federal workers and stakeholders.


Brazilian Drug Price Increase Rates Hit Eight-Year Low

 

CMED, which sets medicine prices in Brazil, has published the maximum price adjustment index for 2025.

England’s NICE Wants Industry Involvement In HTA Sandbox Projects

 

Pharmaceutical companies are being encouraged to reach out to NICE in relation to its HTA Innovation Lab, which provides a sandbox environment in which the health technology assessment body can test new methods of evaluating “innovative and disruptive” therapies.

PBMs Must Prepare For Revival Of Drug Price Transparency Requirements

 

Experts say PBMs should become familiar with transparency rules and prepare to release data, although more legal wrangling could occur.

Is Optum Rx Payment Remodel To Favor Generics A Peace Offering For US FTC?

 

Optum Rx, one of the largest PBMs in the US, declared it was the “first comprehensive, transparent pharmacy services company” after announcing several consumer-friendly changes.