And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is still developing, but we plan to catch up on our reading, promenade with the official mascot, and socialize a wee bit. And what about you? This is a fine time to enjoy the great outdoors, if you can find relatively cool temperatures. Perhaps a sojourn across a calm lake or a cozy spot under a shady tree may do. For the less adventurous, taverns and libraries usually have air conditioning. Wherever you find yourself, you could plan a summer getaway before it is too late. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
Steve Ubl, who leads the nation’s top lobbying group in the U.S. for the pharmaceutical industry, is offering a final salvo to Congress as Democratic lawmakers inch closer to passing their sweeping reconciliation package that includes drug-pricing measures — and threatening swift retaliation if they fail to listen, Politico reports. His group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, and its 31 board members sent a letter to every member of Congress on Thursday afternoon, urging them to vote against the package. “Those members who vote for this bill will not get a free pass. We’ll do whatever we can to hold them accountable,” he said.
The Democratic legislation designed to address prescription-drug pricing would increase launch prices for new medicines, according to a report from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office. The impact would primarily be driven by a provision that would make drug manufacturers pay a rebate if they increase prices above inflation. A provision to allow Medicare to negotiate prices for some drugs would have less impact on launch prices, though. “Although the ceiling for a drug’s negotiated price is based on its price from a prior year, negotiation could not occur until drugs were on the market for a number of years — at least seven for small-molecule drugs and 11 for biologics,” the CBO wrote.
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