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What We're Reading: Drug Makers Sue to Block Prices in TV Ads; Opioid Settlement Proposal; Pfizer to Buy Array BioPharma
US drug makers sue to block a federal regulation that would require them to display list prices for drugs in television advertisements; a proposal could lead to a broad settlement for opioid manufacturers that would issue a nationwide payout and prevent future lawsuits from local governments; Pfizer has agreed to buy Array BioPharma for $11.4 billion.
US Drug Makers Sue to Prevent Display of Drug Prices in TV Ads
US drug manufacturers sued Friday to block a federal regulation from taking effect that would require them to list drug prices in television advertisements, The New York Times reported. HHS finalized the rule May 8, 2019; due to take effect in July, it represents one of the most high-profiile efforts by the Trump administration to lower prescription drug prices. Drug makers argued that list prices differ from patients' final costs, as list prices do not include rebates, discounts offered or patient assistance programs.
Proposal Could Settle All Opioid Lawsuits, Issue Nationwide Payout
Pending approval by US District Judge Dan Aaron Polster, a proposal made Friday in an Ohio federal court by lawyers for hundreds of local governments could pave the way for a nationwide settlement with opioid manufacturers, according to The New York Times. The plan could expand the number of municipalities and counties eligible for compensation in federal litigation from 1650 to nearly 24,500. The proposal was suggested to provide a greater incentive for pharmaceutical companies tthat are defendants to comprehensively settle, as it would prevent future lawsuits from local governments.
Pfizer Agrees to Acquire Array BioPharma for $11.4 Billion
In an effort to expand its presence in cancer research, Pfizer has agreed to buy Array BioPharma for $11.4 billion, paying $48 per share, The Washington Post reported. Last month, Array announced that its drugs Braftovi and Mektovi, along with another treatment, significantly improved overall survival in late-stage testing for some patients with colorectal cancer. Array planned to submit results to federal regulators later this year.
Urticaria Diagnosis Challenged by Overlapping Pruritic Skin Conditions
April 23rd 2025Urticaria is complicated to diagnose by its symptomatic overlap with other skin conditions and the frequent misclassification in literature of distinct pathologies like vasculitic urticaria and bullous pemphigus.
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New Research Challenges Assumptions About Hospital-Physician Integration, Medicare Patient Mix
April 22nd 2025On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Brady Post, PhD, lead author of a study published in the April 2025 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care®, challenges the claim that hospital-employed physicians serve a more complex patient mix.
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Personalized Care Key as Tirzepatide Use Expands Rapidly
April 15th 2025Using commercial insurance claims data and the US launch of tirzepatide as their dividing point, John Ostrominski, MD, Harvard Medical School, and his team studied trends in the use of both glucose-lowering and weight-lowering medications, comparing outcomes between adults with and without type 2 diabetes.
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ACOs’ Focus on Rooting Out Fraud Aligns With CMS Vision Under Oz
April 23rd 2025Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are increasingly playing the role of data sleuths as they identify and report trends of anomalous billing in hopes of salvaging their shared savings. This mission dovetails with that of CMS, which under the new administration plans to prioritize rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse.
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