ICER Releases Draft Scope on COVID-19 Vaccines
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has posted a draft scoping document outlining its plans to assess the long-term clinical and economic value of updated COVID-19 vaccines.
News
Lilly Doubles Down on Genetic Medicines with $1.6B RNAi and Gene Therapy Alliances
Eli Lilly has signed back-to-back collaborations with SanegeneBio and MeiraGTx, advancing its genetic medicine portfolio across RNA interference and ophthalmic gene therapy. Together, the agreements deepen Lilly’s position in next-generation RNA- and DNA-based therapeutics.
TLV Endorses Keytruda Combo for Advanced Cervical Cancer with Cost-Effectiveness Caveats
Sweden’s TLV has published its health economic assessment of Merck’s Keytruda for locally advanced cervical cancer, finding clear efficacy benefits when added to chemoradiation. However, the agency warns that cost-effectiveness hinges on price transparency and real-world survival durability.
FDA Unveils Second Wave of National Priority Voucher Winners, Featuring Obesity Leaders Lilly and Novo Nordisk
Scientists and staff walk outside the U.S. Food and Drug Administration headquarters, representing the agency’s growing focus on regulatory innovation and public health priorities. (AI-generated for editorial illustration purposes.) FDA expands National Priority Voucher pilot with six new awardees, bringing total to 15 therapies The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a significant … Read more
CMS’ Medicaid drug payment model brings Trump’s MFN push
CMS’ Medicaid drug payment model links value-based pricing and international benchmarks to lower costs and improve patient outcomes. (Editorial illustration.) US government aims to lower Medicaid drug prices and align costs with global rates under new GENEROUS model The US government has launched a sweeping initiative to reduce prescription drug costs under the Medicaid program, … Read more
Pfizer wins $10 billion bidding war for Metsera after competitive bidding with Novo Nordisk
Months of legal challenges, court rulings, and regulatory probes define the industry’s fiercest metabolic takeover fight Pfizer has signed a definitive agreement to acquire metabolic biotech Metsera, ending months of one of the most aggressive takeover battles in recent biopharma history. The deal concludes a dramatic contest with Novo Nordisk, which had initially secured Metsera’s … Read more
Dutch Healthcare Institute Limits Early Access to Obesity Drugs Amid Cost and Evidence Concerns
The Dutch Healthcare Institute is taking a cautious, phased approach to new obesity drugs, limiting access to patients with the highest disease burden. The move reflects concerns about evidence gaps, cost-effectiveness, and the growing pressure obesity treatments could place on the national healthcare budget.
Thailand launches drug access program to slash household medical bills by 32B baht
Thailand is letting patients fill hospital prescriptions at registered pharmacies under a new initiative expected to save households 32 billion baht annually. Officials say the program will ease private-sector pricing pressure and improve drug access nationwide.
Takeover Battle: Novo Nordisk Wins Brave Court Victory in $10B Metsera Deal Amid FTC Probe
Novo Nordisk’s $10 billion takeover for Metsera has survived a Delaware court challenge from Pfizer but now faces federal scrutiny from the FTC.
Scilex Secures Exclusive Global License for Tokenizing Biotech Assets Through Datavault AI Platform
Scilex Holding Company has announced an exclusive global license from Datavault AI to tokenize and monetize genomic, diagnostic, and therapeutic data ushering in a new digital framework for valuing real-world biotech assets. The agreement allows Scilex to use Datavault’s proprietary AI-driven platform to create a Biotech Exchange, a marketplace designed to securely trade and fund … Read more