CLOSE MENUBringing down high drug prices was a priority in the Biden platform. In the past, Biden mentioned allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, implementing a German drug pricing model, and capping prices. To review the President-elect’s platform, including his goals in the pharmaceutical industry, click here.
Aducanumab is the first new drug for Alzheimer’s disease in nearly two decades, and if approved, it will be the first immunotherapy to reduce the clinical decline of Alzheimer’s disease. While the panel did not vote in favor of the drug, the FDA has the ability to approve the drug against their recommendation. There have been significant rumors surrounding the pricing and insurance coverage for the novel treatment, and due to the testing of the drug, it is likely to be prescribed off-label. To review the complete article, click here.
The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine was found to be more than 90% effective in the prevention of COVID-19. While the Trump Administration is taking credit for the success of Pfizer and Operation Warp Speed (OWS), Pfizer clarified that their OWS contract is to purchase doses of the vaccine and was not given in advance to fund research and development. Pfizer is on track to make 50 million doses in 2020 and 1.3billion more in 2021. To review the entire press release, click here.
While preexisting condition coverage is the most well-known portion of the ACA that may be in danger by the Supreme Court ruling, Medicare prescription drug coverage, drug rebates, and innovative biosimilars may also be at risk. The ruling of California v. Texas is not expected until spring of 2021, and it is unknown if the ruling will repeal the entire ACA or just certain titles of the law. For background on the upcoming oral arguments, click here.
