CER Daily Newsfeed

Orphan Drugs Are Neglected No More

(7/3, The Wall Street Journal) comments “A bill as large as the GOP reconciliation budget takes time to pore through, and we can now report a hidden gem: It fixes the Inflation Reduction Act's disincentive to develop treatments for rare diseases...Several orphan drug makers have canceled studies for follow-on indications since the IRA controls took effect. A recent analysis by the National Pharmaceutical Council found that the share of orphan drugs that received a second orphan drug designation fell by nearly half after the law passed—to 6.3% from 12.1% pre-IRA. Enter Republicans, who have added a provision to their tax bill that would ensure orphan drugs remain exempt from the price controls even if they are repurposed for other rare diseases.” Subscription Required

Let's Fix Our Own Prescription Drug Policies, Not Import Europe's Problems

(7/3, Mark Merritt, RealClearHealth) comments “...Government price controls will achieve little if hospitals, insurers, and other players keep gobbling up savings before they reach patients. It's like trying to fill a bucket with giant holes in the bottom -- no matter how much water you pour in, it never gets full. Instead of copying Europe's government-controlled approach, Washington must stop protecting middlemen and favoring those in government programs over those with private health insurance. It's time to focus on what actually matters: reducing pharmacy costs for all Americans, not just expanding government control over healthcare decisions.” Full

Real-World Data Shows Similar Clinical Outcomes in Patients Receiving Biosimilars Following Switch From Reference Product

(7/4, Gillian McGovern, Pharmacy Times) reports “Patients with inflammatory conditions achieved similar clinical outcomes after switching from the reference adalimumab (Humira; AbbVie) to a biosimilar, according to real-world data presented at the 2025 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Pharmacy Futures Meeting. The research also demonstrated that no patients were hospitalized to treat their inflammatory condition during the study period.” Full

From Fee-for-Service to Value-Based Care: Enhancing Outcomes in Nephrology

(7/4, Tim Pflederer, MedCity News) comments “...Under the FFS payment model, providers earn money based on services they deliver instead of the quality of results achieved. This creates incentives that favor treating complications rather than preventing them...By tying incentives to patient outcomes, preventive services, and cost-effectiveness, adopting a VBC model could help solve this systemic flaw. Rather than rewarding volume, value and quality would be at the forefront.” Full

UK: NHS Ten-Year Plan Should Result in Faster Medicines Access, Says NICE

(7/4, Corrinne Burns, The Pharmaceutical Journal) reports “...The ten-year plan also promises a single national formulary for medicines within the next two years, saying that the current localised process for getting new medicines to patients is ‘bureaucratic and creates a postcode lottery.’ A formulary oversight board will be created which will, with the support of NICE, look at the clinical and cost effectiveness of products in the formulary. Prescribers will be ‘encouraged’ to use products ranked highly in the formulary but will retain clinical autonomy as long as they prescribe in line with NICE guidance, the plan said.” Full