Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
CDC issues new guidelines for RSV vaccines
- The Centers for Disease Control has updated its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine recommendations now advising that only adults aged 75 and older, or those 60 to 74 with high-risk conditions, should receive the vaccination.
- Live Science reports that the CDC’s RSV vaccine guideline revision is a response to unexpected increases in Guillain-Barré syndrome cases, a serious condition that can lead to paralysis and life-threatening respiratory muscle involvement.
What drugmakers are saying about final negotiated prices with Medicare
- Pharmaceutical executives from many companies have acknowledged the finalized Medicare drug prices for their treatments, expressing confidence in managing the short-term impact, but voicing strong concerns about the long-term effects on innovation and patient care in the U.S.
- CNBC reports that Medicare’s initial drug price negotiation round has concluded, with the finalized prices for 10 drugs to be announced in September and implemented in 2026.
FDA releases discussion paper on health equity for medical devices
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health released a discussion paper addressing health equity in medical devices, seeking public input to improve health outcomes across diverse populations.
- The paper highlights three key considerations for designing clinical studies: disease burden, physiology, and technology, and it encourages public feedback to enhance the generalizability of clinical data for diverse populations.
Biopharma entrepreneurs make business case for personalized genetic medicines
- Entrepreneurs advocate for personalized genetic medicines for rare diseases, emphasizing the moral imperative and commercial potential, as reported by BioSpace.
- Advances in genome sequencing and reproducible platform technologies like ASOs and mRNA are paving the way for these individualized therapies, aiming to make them commercially viable and accessible.
Merck KGaA posts positive quarter: Analyst predicts CDMO rebound
- Merck KGaA reported a 2% growth in sales for its contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) group, bolstered by both its health care and electronics divisions.
- Per Fierce Pharma, Merck KGaA’s life science CDMO division has struggled driven by multiple factors including a drop in demand for COVID-19 related services.
For more insights in life sciences, check out RSM’s industry outlook.
