pharmaceuticals

The U.S. health department proposed on Tuesday three new pilot projects aimed at lowering prescription drug prices for people enrolled in government health insurance plans, including offering some essential generic drugs for $2 a month.

World Health Organization

The World Health Organization is increasing its epidemiological surveillance in Equatorial Guinea after the country confirmed its first outbreak of the Marburg virus, a WHO official said on Tuesday.

As COVID ripped across China and filled emergency wards, privileged patients cut hospital queues because they knew someone, offered a bribe or paid people with connections, said three people who accessed care through such means and seven doctors in six cities.

Mifeprex

Dozens of U.S. state attorneys general on Friday weighed in on a lawsuit seeking a court order blocking access nationwide to a drug used in medication abortion, with Republicans in support of the lawsuit and Democrats warning of “devastating consequences” if it succeeds.

The U.S. government has agreed to buy 1.5 million more doses of Novavax Inc. COVID-19 vaccine, the company said on Monday, adding that the modified agreement includes funds for development of an updated vaccine by fall this year.

FDA

The FDA issued complete response letters to Phathom Pharmaceuticals, flagging the presence of N-nitroso-vonoprazan (NVP) impurities detected in the company’s approved Helicobacter pylori drug products, the company announced Thursday.

GlaxoSmithKline

It was a good Thursday for GSK’s Jemperli (dostarlimab), as the immunotherapy received both full FDA approval in endometrial cancer and the regulatory go-ahead regarding its development plan in rectal cancer. 

European Medicines Agency

A European Medicines Agency (EMA) committee said on Friday it has started a review of decongestant medicines for cold and flu that contain the ingredient pseudoephedrine following safety concerns.

blister packets

The U.S. government will begin imposing penalties in 2025 on drug companies that charge its Medicare program prices that rise faster than inflation, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said on Thursday.

A unit of medical device maker Medtronic plc must pay $106.5 million to competitor Colibri Heart Valve LLC for patent infringement, a Santa Ana, California federal jury said Wednesday.