Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
With Patent Ruling, Supreme Court Deals Defeat To Brand-Name Drugmakers
The Wall Street Journal: Supreme Court Upholds Rules That Have Been Friendly To Patent Challenges
The Supreme Court on Monday blessed new government procedures for challenging patents, a win for companies that argued the fledgling process was a better, more cost-effective way to weed weak patents out of the system. The ruling is a blow for companies that favor strong patent protections, such as those in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. (Kendall, 6/20)
Stat: Supreme Court’s Ruling In Patent Case A Blow To Drug Industry
The case had nothing to do with prescription medications and centered on the minutiae of patent law. But drug makers had placed the stakes of the case in dire terms. The industry’s trade group warned in its briefs that an Obama administration rule, challenged in the case and upheld by the court on Monday, “breeds uncertainty and stifles innovation” in American medicine. (Scott, 6/20)
Modern Healthcare: Supreme Court Decision A Win For Generic-Drug Makers Fighting Patents
In deciding a case over who should have the upper hand in patent battles, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a win to generic-drug makers and those hoping to hold down drug prices. Monday's decision could, however, make it more difficult for makers of brand-name drugs to protect their patents, which they say allows them to invest in developing new drugs. (Schencker, 6/20)
In other pharmaceutical news —
The Wall Street Journal: Researchers Study New Ways To Treat Suicide Risk
Scientists are developing new ways to directly target the suicidal thoughts and behaviors of people at risk. Researchers are finding that certain medications, like ketamine, clozapine and lithium, may alleviate suicidal thinking. Scientists are also tweaking existing psychological treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy, and coming up with new ones to combat the desire for self-harm. (Petersen, 6/20)
Stat: Landmark Effort To Speed Drug Approvals Nears Critical Phase In Congress
It may be now or never for a landmark legislative push to speed up the US drug approval process — but there are signs that lawmakers just might make it work. (Nather, 6/21)
The Associated Press: NIH Won't Cut Price Of Taxpayer-Funded Prostate Cancer Drug
The federal government has declined a petition to lower the price of a drug for advanced prostate cancer developed with taxpayer money. The public interest group Knowledge Ecology International petitioned the National Institutes of Health in January to reduce the $129,000-a year list price of Xtandi, made by the Japanese drugmaker Astellas Pharma. (6/20)
The Washington Post: Marijuana’s Biggest Adversary On Capitol Hill Is Sponsoring A Bill To Research … Marijuana
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) is Congress's most vocal opponent of legal marijuana, having single-handedly spearheaded a provision blocking legal pot shops in the District of Columbia in 2014. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), on the other hand, was recently named Congress's "top legal pot advocate" by Rolling Stone. The two lawmakers couldn't be farther apart on marijuana policy, but they're teaming up this week to introduce a significant overhaul of federal marijuana policy that would make it much easier for scientists to conduct research into the medical uses of marijuana. (Ingraham, 6/20)
