Belgian Drugmaker UCB To Build Factory Outside Atlanta, Add 330 Jobs
The rapidly growing company will spend $2 billion on the suburban Atlanta plant, marking a major expansion into the U.S. Other industry news is on insulin pricing, doctors' drug kickbacks, and more.
AP:
Belgian Drugmaker UCB Plans Major Expansion In The US
Belgian pharmaceutical company UCB announced Tuesday that it would invest $2 billion to build a drug-making plant in suburban Atlanta. The rapidly growing drugmaker said the plant, which would employ about 330 people upon completion, would anchor its effort to sell more drugs in the United States. “This decision reflects our confidence in UCB’s long-term growth and our deep-rooted commitment to the United States,” company CEO Jean-Christophe Tellier said in a statement. (3/24)
The 19th:
DeSantis Signs Law To Restore AIDS Drug Assistance Program Through June
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a bill that gives low-income Floridians three more months of access to essential HIV medication. (Rummler, 3/24)
AP:
ImmunityBio Anktiva Cancer Claims: FDA Flags Patrick Soon-Shiong's Comments
Federal health officials posted a warning Tuesday about misleading statements made by biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who recently told podcast listeners that his company’s bladder cancer drug may be able to treat, cure or even prevent other types of cancers. The warning letter from the Food and Drug Administration takes issue with a TV advertisement and a separate podcast episode promoting Anktiva, the lead product of ImmunityBio Inc. The drugmaker is one of several biotech firms acquired by Soon-Shiong, who also owns the Los Angeles Times. (Perrone, 3/24)
Fierce Healthcare:
CVS Caremark, FTC Reach Settlement In Insulin Pricing Case
CVS Health's Caremark has become the second of the "Big Three" pharmacy benefit managers to reach a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a lawsuit over insulin pricing. Per court documents (PDF) filed Monday, the parties have requested that the matter be withdrawn "for the purpose of considering a proposed consent agreement." Further details on the potential settlement have not yet been disclosed publicly, but a source familiar with the terms told Reuters the settlement is in line with the agreement the agency reached with Express Scripts last month. (Minemyer, 3/24)
Stat:
Pharma Penalties For Doctors' Kickbacks Just A Cost Of Doing Business
Pharmaceutical companies that were penalized for kickbacks paid only 2.2% of their U.S. revenue generated by selling drugs that were the focus of the alleged violations during the past quarter century, according to a new analysis. (Silverman, 3/24)
Health insurance developments —
Healthcare Dive:
CommonSpirit, Humana Reach New Nationwide Medicare Advantage Contract
CommonSpirit and Humana have reached a new nationwide Medicare Advantage contract keeping Humana members in-network with the massive health system for the next three years. The agreement also reestablishes the companies’ relationship in Colorado and Texas, where some Humana members lost in-network access to CommonSpirit facilities at the start of 2025 after regional contracts lapsed. (Parduhn, 3/24)
Modern Healthcare:
Highmark Health's 2025 Earnings Hit By High Utilization
High utilization dragged down Highmark Health’s full-year earnings — but the integrated system’s leaders are looking to boost revenue through dealmaking in 2026. Delayed care from the pandemic, along with an aging population, contributed to pressures on the system’s insurance arm, said President and CEO David Holmberg on a Tuesday earnings call. “The real challenge for all of us is that the cost of healthcare is becoming almost unsustainable,” he said. (Tong, 3/24)
More health industry news —
Modern Healthcare:
UCI Layoffs To Hit 150 Employees
UCI Health will lay off about 150 workers, or roughly 1% of its workforce. The Irvine, California-based academic health system is adjusting its workforce amid shifts in federal funding, declining reimbursement from insurers and changes to how patients access care, according to a Monday news release. The organization did not respond to requests for comment about when the cuts will happen and what kinds of roles will be affected. (Kacik, 3/24)
Modern Healthcare:
Oura CMO Ricky Bloomfield On The Smart Ring Tackling Healthcare
Smart ring company Oura wants to help usher in the next era of data-informed healthcare.Oura’s wearable smart ring, which gathers and tracks personal health data, hit the market in 2015. Over the years, the company has introduced features including heart health monitoring and tools related to women’s health. Oura has sold more than 5.5 million rings. In October, the company raised more than $900 million and reached an $11 billion valuation. (Famakinwa, 3/24)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Bridgeton Pediatrician Sentenced To Federal Prison
A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a Bridgeton pediatrician to 20 years in prison for prescribing tens of thousands of pills in exchange for sex, explicit photos or cash. Over the course of nearly a decade, Dr. Craig Spiegel, 70, abused at least two dozen women — some of whom were his patients as children. (Rieck, 3/24)
