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What We’re Reading: Iowa Abortion Ban; Pfizer, Flagship Pioneering Partnership; South Dakota Governor on Drug Shortages
An Iowa abortion ban is temporarily blocked; Pfizer partners with Flagship Pioneering in drug development deal; South Dakota’s governor calls for action in addressing the national drug shortage.
Judge Temporarily Blocks Iowa Abortion Ban
Iowa's new abortion ban was temporarily blocked from taking effect by Polk County District Court Judge Joseph Seidlin, according to The Hill. The lawsuit filed by abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, argus that the ban was not constitutional under Iowa law. The court ruled in favor of the abortion providers, granting a temporary injunction while the case continues, thus restoring access to abortion in the state.
Pfizer, Flagship Pioneering to Invest in Drug Discovery, Development
Drugmaker Pfizer and venture capital firm Flagship Pioneering have partnered to invest $100 million to discover and develop 10 potential drugs targeting diseases with limited or no treatment options, according to Reuters. Flagship will contribute $50 million, leveraging its drug discovery initiative, Pioneering Medicines, to lead the research for new drug molecules. Pfizer will provide funding for the development of the selected drugs and have the option to acquire them, gaining access to Flagship's research platform and preclinical study resources. Additionally, Flagship-backed companies could receive up to $700 million in milestones and royalties if any of the experimental treatments are successfully launched and sold because of this collaboration.
South Dakota Governor Addresses US Drug Shortages
Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota, has taken action to address drug shortages in the United State, announcing plans to expand the state's stockpiles of certain medications facing shortages, according to The Associated Press. Noem hopes this move will prompt federal authorities, particularly the FDA, to take decisive action in addressing weaknesses in the international pharmaceutical supply chain and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, such as China and India. These drug shortages are an ongoing issue in the country, affecting patient care due to manufacturing problems, demand spikes, tight ingredient supplies, and overreliance on foreign sources.
CMS' 340B Repayment Proposal May Harm Vulnerable Hospitals, Reward Those With Higher Revenues
April 26th 2024The 340B hospitals not receiving an offsetting lump-sum payment from CMS following 2018-2022 cuts later ruled unlawful are disproportionately rural, publicly owned, and nonacademic, according to a new study.
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Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Navigating Health Policy in an Election Year: Insights From Dr Dennis Scanlon
April 2nd 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Dennis Scanlon, PhD, the editor in chief of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, about prior authorization, price transparency, the impact of health policy on the upcoming election, and more.
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Mental Health Diagnoses, Care Challenges Rise Among US Youth, Report Finds
April 26th 2024While behavioral health care utilization has been rising, the treatment landscape has been worsening. New findings show that 20% of youths did not receive any form of treatment within 3 months of their initial behavioral health diagnosis.
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