Adolescent Mental Health is Worsening with Varied Impacts by Race, Sex, Sexual Orientation
June 29th 2022A recent issue brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation says anxiety and depression, drug overdose deaths, self-harm and eating disorders have increased in adolescents as access and utilization of mental health care has declined.
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Making Contraception More Available
June 23rd 2022Demand for birth control obtained through telehealth or without a prescription continues to grow, and some states have loosened up their rules. Meanwhile, groups and organizations involved in contraception are bracing themselves for the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court decision today overturned Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion.
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FDA Updates for Week of June 13, 2022
June 18th 2022In COVID-19 news, the FDA expanded emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children down to 6 months of age. The FDA also approved Skyrizi for Crohn’s disease, Olumiant for alopecia, as well as two rare disease therapies: Imcivree for obesity associated BBS and Amvuttra for neuropathy associated with rare disease. Additionally, FDA extended the PDUFA date Brukinsa.
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Enbrel Stays Above the Biosimilar Fray, but Humira Biosimilars May Nip at its Heels
June 15th 2022Amgen’s biologic won’t have biosimilar competition till 2029. But the possibility that up to 11 Humira biosimilars may come on the market in 2023 could exert some downward pressure on Enbrel’s price.
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The Future of Employer Sponsored Healthcare Plans Is Cost Management
June 12th 2022Adding tax-preferred savings, perhaps with an employer match, can prompt employees to accumulate assets so they are prepared to shoulder out-of-pocket costs. Using reference-based pricing can establish benchmark fees and put a ceiling on payments across a network.
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FDA Updates for the Week of June 6, 2022
June 11th 2022In COVID-19 news, an FDA advisory committee recommends EUA for Novavax’s vaccine. The FDA has also granted approvals to Dupixent for children as young as 6 month with atopic dermatitis and to the biosimilar Riabni for rheumatoid arthritis. An advisory committee has also recommended approval for two gene therapies, one for a rare neurogenerative disease and another for a blood disease.
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FTC Launches Inquiry Into PBM Industry
June 7th 2022The Federal Trade Commission says its inquiry “will shed light on” clawbacks, potentially unfair audits, rebates and other business practices of the pharmacy benefits management (PBM) industry. Today’s announcement says the commission will be requiring information from the six largest PBMs.
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Managing and Retaining Employees During Periods of Disruptive Change
June 7th 2022To thrive organizations must figure out how to build and maintain a strong culture in an increasingly remote workplace, and implement effective recruitment and retention strategies in an economy where there are fewer workers.
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FDA Updates for Week of May 31
June 4th 2022The FDA has withdrawn the approval of Ukoniq, which is used to treat two specific types of lymphoma. In approvals, the regulatory agency has approved a new indication for Kymriah, two addition Opdivo regimens, and extended the use of Evrysdi in newborns with SMA. The agency also accepted for review Dupixent to treat skin lesions but extended the review of a new ALS therapy, refused to file an application for a rare metabolic disorder, and put a hold on the trial for Cialis OTC.
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