Key Advisers Signal That White House Could Be Receptive To Progressive Strategy Of Capping Drug Price Increases
The Trump administration’s openness to the idea serves as the latest evidence that it has become increasingly reliant on Capitol Hill for a victory on drug costs. Top officials are scrambling after a court blocked an administration rule that would have required drugmakers to include prescription prices in its ads.
Stat:
Top Trump Advisers Hint At Support For Progressive Drug Pricing Idea
A trio of key White House advisors on Tuesday hinted for the first time that they could support a progressive proposal to cap price increases for certain medicines, speaking at a closed-door Capitol Hill briefing of Republican senators. Health secretary Alex Azar joined Joe Grogan, the president’s top policy adviser, to encourage senators to pursue bipartisan legislation on drug pricing and potentially to include one idea from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) that would cap some drug price hikes at the rate of inflation, according to senators who attended. (Facher and Florko, 7/10)
The Hill:
GOP Senators Raise Concerns Over Potential Deal To Lower Drug Prices
Republican Senators and Trump administration officials met Tuesday morning to debate a potential deal to lower drug prices, with some attendees raising concerns about a possible agreement with Democrats. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) held the meeting with GOP committee members to discuss a possible agreement that he has been negotiating for months with Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), the top Democrat on the panel. (Sullivan, 7/9)
The Hill:
Trump Officials Seek Plan B On Drug Pricing Rule
The Trump administration suffered a blow when a federal judge blocked a key rule about drug price disclosures just hours before it was scheduled to take effect. U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta in Washington, D.C., on Monday sided with a coalition of drug companies and blocked the Trump administration from implementing a policy that would require prescription drug manufacturers to disclose list prices in TV ads. (Weixel, 7/9)
In other pharmaceutical news —
Stat:
23andMe’s Chief Scientific Officer, A Star In Drug Development, Is Leaving Role
The chief scientific officer at 23andMe is leaving his role at the consumer genetics company, four years after his arrival helped energize its move toward drug discovery. Richard Scheller, a Genentech veteran, has joined the Palo Alto, Calif.-based BridgeBio (BBIO) as chairman of research and development, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Scheller remains on 23andMe’s board of directors. (Sheridan, 7/9)
