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What We’re Reading: Pfizer Buying Global Blood Therapeutics; Preventive Care Threatened; Monkeypox Vaccine Strategy Updated
Pfizer has agreed to purchase Global Blood Therapeutics for $5.4 billion; Kelley v Becerra threatens access to preventive care services protected by the Affordable Care Act; monkeypox vaccine doses will be administered via intradermal injection rather than subcutaneously.
Pfizer to Purchase Global Blood Therapeutics
Under the deal, Pfizer will pay $5.4 billion, or $68.50 per share, to purchase Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), The Wall Street Journal reports. With GBT having one of few approved sickle cell disease treatments, this deal will give Pfizer a presence in the rare disease treatment space and help the company reach its longtime goal to sell treatments for the rare blood condition. GBT’s sickle cell drug, voxelotor (Oxbryta), was approved by the FDA in 2019, and the company currently has 2 sickle cell drugs in development.
Lawsuit Targets Preventive Care Coverage Under ACA
Kelley v Becerra, currently before a federal judge in Texas, threatens a provision under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that protects co-pay–free preventive care coverage under most health care plans. NPR reports that if the judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs, access to free birth control, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, cancer screenings, vaccines, counseling for certain conditions, and many other preventive care services will be at risk. According to the plaintiffs, ACA preventive care mandates violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, meanwhile doctors argue that eliminating the provision will reduce access to colon cancer and chronic disease screenings, vaccinations, contraceptives, and many other services.
FDA Adjusts Monkeypox Vaccine Strategy
Today, the Biden administration will announce a new FDA strategy to increase the number of Americans vaccinated against monkeypox by 5 times using a limited supply, The Washington Post reports. Under the new strategy, vaccine doses will be administered via intradermal injection rather than subcutaneously. According to the FDA, this method will only require one-fifth of the original dosage amount and will not compromise safety or efficacy. This announcement comes as monkeypox cases reach nearly 9000 in the United States, according to the CDC.
Real-World Data Support Luspatercept vs ESAs for Anemia in Lower-Risk MDS
June 5th 2025Patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who received luspatercept showed greater hemoglobin gains and transfusion independence compared with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in a real-world analysis.
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Laundromats as a New Frontier in Community Health, Medicaid Outreach
May 29th 2025Lindsey Leininger, PhD, and Allister Chang, MPA, highlight the potential of laundromats as accessible, community-based settings to support Medicaid outreach, foster trust, and connect families with essential health and social services.
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Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias Cause Surging Economic Burden for Minoritized Communities
June 5th 2025African American and Latino older adults with Alzheimer disease and related dementias and their families are likely to face disproportionately high burdens, primarily associated with unpaid caregiving, suggesting the need for policies that may reduce economic burdens for all US residents.
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Use of Voluntary Alignment in the Next Generation ACO Model
June 5th 2025Use of voluntary alignment attribution by Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participants was limited. The authors highlight the reasons and describe organizational use cases via a mixed-methods approach.
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