CER Daily Newsfeed

Cancer Care, Oncology Drug Development Hurt by Inflation Reduction Act?

(11/8, Diana Swift, Oncology News Central) reports “...Recent data presented this year by the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC), which researches health policy related to innovative biopharmaceuticals, suggest that reductions in postapproval trials of various drug classes are already occurring in the wake of the IRA. Although these data were not specific to oncology trials, the council will be releasing an analysis of potential effects on key subgroups. ‘In our data, follow-on cancer drug trials are a relatively large subset of the overall observed follow-on trials, accounting for 40%–50%,’ said Jon D. Campbell, PhD, the council's chief science officer.” Full

Panel of Industry Leaders to Delve into Hidden Costs of Health Care in Colorado on Nov. 12

(11/11, Colorado Politics) reports “What are the hidden costs of health care in Colorado? A panel of industry experts will delve into the dynamics that are driving higher health care costs at the Pinnacle Club at The Grand Hyatt Denver on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Joining the panel are Dr. Jon Campbell, the chief science officer of the National Pharmaceutical Council; Courtney Christian, the deputy vice president for policy and research at PhRMA; and Dr. William S. Smith, the senior fellow & director of pioneer life sciences initiative at the Pioneer Institute.” Full

An Overlook of Cagrilintinide and Semaglutide as it Progresses Through Phase 3 Trials

(11/11, Vidhi Patel, Pharmacy Times) reports “...According to investigators of the previous trials, CagriSema shows similar glucose control and improved weight loss compared to its individual components, cagrilintide and semaglutide. However, the expected gastrointestinal discomfort still remains, along with other possible AEs. Considering that many patients with T2D also present with metabolic comorbidities like obesity, this combination product can be a useful alternative.” Full

Results From Outcomes-Based Agreement Analysis in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

(11/10, Rosanna Sutherby, Pharm.D., Managed Healthcare Executive) comments “...These contracts aim not only to improve patient access and outcomes but also to reduce healthcare utilization costs and improve patient-reported outcomes. It is not surprising that multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prime therapeutic area for adopting outcomes-based agreements. Close to 1 million people in the U.S. are living with MS. Disease-modifying therapies, which have been shown to reduce relapses in a large number of patients with MS, rate among the top 10 costliest medication classes, with annual expenditures adding up to almost $19 billion.” Full

For Medicare Members, the Inflation Reduction Act Cuts Drug Costs, Spreads out Payments

(11/11, Joseph Burns and Liz Seegert, Association of Health Care Journalists Blog) comments “...‘One of foremost health policy challenges facing the next Trump administration will be striking a balance between retaining the law’s elements that align with the President-elect’s agenda — to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries — and addressing those features it opposes, such as Medicare drug price negotiation,’ [Dr. A. Mark Fendrick] wrote.” Full