Top of the morning to you, and a fine one it is. Clear blue skies are hovering over the Pharmalot campus, where a cool breeze is wafting by and the official mascots are bounding about the grounds in search of critters. As for us, we are engaged in the usual ritual of brewing a cuppa stimulation — our choice today is English breakfast — and foraging for items of interest. On that note, please enjoy the latest menu of tidbits we have assembled for you. As always, we hope your journey is meaningful and productive, and that you conquer the world. And of course, do keep in touch. Our settings make it possible to accept postcards and telegrams …
The trade group representing brand-name drug makers in the U.S. is suing the Trump administration over a pilot program tying Medicare drug prices to those in peer countries, STAT notes. PhRMA filed a lawsuit asserting that the “most-favored nation” pilot in Medicare Part B exceeds Medicare’s statutory authority. The pilot, called GLOBE, is not expected to have much impact because the administration exempted all but a handful of companies in return for their agreement to voluntary deals to charge Medicaid MFN prices. But it would set a precedent that the industry wants to nip in the bud. PhRMA says the voluntary agreements are acceptable, but the mandatory GLOBE program is not.
The Trump administration is crafting plans that would allow the temporary sale of certain previously restricted peptides as federal health officials hammer out new regulations around the controversial products, The Washington Post reports. Such a move would allow some compounding pharmacies to dispense certain peptides marketed as new medical treatments and wellness products even as the claims for what they treat have not been fully safety tested. The plan has not yet been announced and timing was unclear, meaning it could still change.
