Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Tweaked House Transparency, PBM Legislation Wins Backing Of Key Dem
Stat: House Transparency, PBM Reform Bill Gains Bipartisan Support
A Democrat has signed on to a legislative package that would require health care transparency by law and enact modest payment reforms to pharmacy middlemen and hospitals, increasing its chances of passing the House of Representatives. (Cohrs, 9/8)
More on drug pricing and reforms —
The Wall Street Journal: Big Pharma’s Battle With The Biden Administration Could Have Legs
Investors haven’t been taking pharma’s legal effort against President Biden’s drug pricing policy too seriously: When Merck became the first of several entities to sue the U.S. government this summer, its stock was among the worst large-cap laggards that day. But as the industry unleashes a torrent of legal action in federal courts across the country—with Novartis becoming the latest company to join the fray—investors should be paying closer attention as surprises could be in store. (Wainer, 9/9)
Stat: ALS Advocates Say Criticism Of New Drugs Misses Bigger Picture
A diagnosis of ALS has long been seen as a death sentence. But in recent years, progress in the world of ALS research and drug development has come to embody a conundrum with far broader implications: The balance between moving aggressively on promising new cures and guarding against false hope. (Facher, 9/8)
In other pharmaceutical news —
NBC News: After His Suicide, A Man’s Family Wants A Warning Label On Ozempic
On the morning of May 14, Anthony died by suicide at his home in Indiana. Although he had experienced depression in the past, his family was shocked by his death and attributes it to Ozempic. ... In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration’s adverse event reporting system, or FAERS, had received 59 reports of suicidal ideation, six reports of suicide attempts and four reports of suicide related to Ozempic as of June 30. Wegovy — which carries a warning about suicidal thoughts — had six reports of suicidal ideation and no reports of suicide or suicide attempts. (Bendix, 9/10)
Bloomberg: AstraZeneca Lung Cancer Drug Tagrisso Works Better With Chemotherapy
AstraZeneca Plc’s Tagrisso delayed the worsening of advanced lung cancer longer when combined with chemotherapy, according to a study that may help solidify its place in treating the disease. Getting both medicines slowed the progression of advanced, non-small cell lung tumors for nine months more than Tagrisso alone, researchers said Monday at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Singapore. The combination cut patients’ risk of death or disease progression by 38% compared with Tagrisso alone, the researchers said. (Matsuyama, 9/11)
Stat: Crinetics Acromegaly Drug Succeeds In Late-Stage Trial
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals announced on Sunday that its experimental drug for acromegaly, a rare and serious hormonal disorder, succeeded in a late-stage trial, bringing the San Diego biotech a step closer to applying for Food and Drug Administration approval — and entry into a crowded market with blockbuster therapies sold by pharma giants. (Wosen, 9/10)
NBC News: Does This Over-The-Counter Decongestant Really Work? FDA Panel To Re-Evaluate Phenylephrine
Does a common ingredient used in many over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines actually work to get rid of nasal congestion? That’s the question the Food and Drug Administration will pose to a panel of outside advisers during a two-day meeting next week to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the ingredient, phenylephrine, which is found in many decongestants. (Lovelace Jr., 9/8)
