Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
Most-favored-nation drug price targets revealed
- According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. could target prices based on the lowest benchmark prices from other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries with a per capita gross domestic product of at least 60% of the U.S.
- HHS expects each manufacturer to commit to align prices of all brand products across all markets that do not currently have generic or biosimilar competition.
First custom CRISPR therapy created for one infant’s rare disease
- A team of researchers created a custom CRISPR therapy in just six months to treat an infant’s rare metabolic disease, CPS1 deficiency.
- According to Endpoints, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration greenlit the gene editing treatment after a one-week review, likely marking the fastest-ever creation of a new drug and the first bespoke gene editing treatment for a patient.
Novo Nordisk ousts chief executive
- Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen will step down as chief executive of the Danish pharmaceutical giant, Novo Nordisk, amid concerns the company is losing ground in the highly competitive obesity drug market, writes Reuters.
- Investors have raised concerns over the company’s drug pipeline, especially comparing Novo Nordisk’s results to competitors.
FDA tightens COVID-19 vaccine approval standards
- The FDA announced it will now require randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials demonstrating clinical outcomes before approving COVID-19 vaccines for healthy people 6 months to 64 years.
- According to MedTech Dive, this policy shift limits immediate vaccine access to those over 65 or with high-risk conditions, aiming to ensure that booster shots provide clear benefits for low-risk groups.
Quantum leap in drug discovery
- A new quantum artificial intelligence model developed with Sorbonne University can simulate molecular behavior with unprecedented accuracy, potentially reducing the need for costly lab experiments.
- According to European Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, the model excels in modeling molecular reactivity and dynamic interactions, surpassing traditional tools in simulating complex biomolecular behaviors.
For more insights in life sciences, check out RSM’s industry outlook.
