Pharma and Biotech Daily: The Latest in Gene Therapy, Drug Pricing, and Cancer Research

Pharma and BioTech Daily

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma e Biotech world.Evotec is exiting the gene therapy field and cutting jobs due to a slowdown in research spending. Merck has made a $700 million bet on an antibody drug for immune diseases, while Lilly has opened a new R&D hub in Boston. Ovid and Lexicon have laid off staff, and Merck's TIGIT drug has failed another trial. Intellia's therapy for hereditary angioedema has succeeded in a study. The gene therapy market is growing, particularly in cancer care, with companies continuing to invest in improving cell therapies. Cabaletta Bio's shares have sunk on safety concerns, while Vertex has secured reimbursement for Casgev in England. The world's priciest drug may save lives, but there are concerns about whether children can access it in time. Overall, the gene therapy industry is experiencing various developments and challenges as companies navigate the evolving landscape.The Biden administration announced that negotiated drug prices through the IRA program are expected to save Medicare $6 billion in 2026, although the actual savings may not be as significant as claimed. Gilead's investment in CymaBay paid off with FDA approval for a drug to treat autoimmune liver disease. Evotec is the latest biopharma company to announce layoffs in August. In other news, Incyte received a second FDA approval for a drug to treat graft-versus-host disease, while bluebird is experiencing slow uptake of its gene therapies for sickle cell and beta-thalassemia. The role of quality assurance and regulatory affairs (QARA) professionals is evolving, with strategies and best practices being discussed. Various marketing campaigns and strategies are being discussed, including Lobos 1707 casting LeBron James as a spy in new ads, Martha Stewart playing an intern in a Fiverr campaign, and US Bank celebrating black achievement with zines in The New York Times. Additionally, Allbirds' CMO talks about the importance of brand building in the company's turnaround plan. The text also includes information about first-party data strategies, an upcoming webinar on the state of marketing and print projects in 2024, and other relevant industry news and resources.In the healthcare industry, Medicare revealed the results of drug price negotiations, which are expected to save taxpayers $6 billion. Kaiser Permanente has implemented an AI documentation tool from Abridge to summarize medical information from patient-clinician conversations. Meanwhile, Medicaid has surpassed Medicare Advantage as a challenge for health insurers in the second quarter, but many still reported significant earnings. In other news, there are updates on healthcare worker strikes and unsealed court filings detailing a Department of Justice investigation into Prospect Medical for possible false claim act violations.The text discusses the health disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among minority groups, and how these disparities were exacerbated during the crisis. It also explores the importance of building trust among patients of color in the healthcare system despite historical injustices and ongoing disparities. Dr. Reed Tuckson, a leader in public health outreach to people of color, shares lessons learned from the pandemic and discusses how pharma can better serve these communities.The U.S. government has unveiled the prices it will pay for 10 widely used medicines as part of its efforts to lower prescription drug costs through Medicare negotiations. These prices will not take effect until 2026, but the announcement marks a significant step in a process established by the Inflation Reduction Act. Biopharma Dive provides detailed coverage of this development and other industry news, offering insight into topics such as clinical readouts, FDA approvals, gene therapy, dru

Support the Show.