Weekend ICYMI: September 16 to September 20

Q&A: PBM Legislation “Highly Likely” to Pass This Year

US Capitol dome / Daniel Thornberg - stock.adobe.com

It is “highly likely” that pharmacy benefit management (PBM) legislation will cross the legislative finish line this year, according to Patrick Cooney, president of The Federal Group, a Washington, DC-based lobbying firm. Cooney was interviewed during the 2024 Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute Annual National Conference by Drug Topics’ sister publication, Managed Healthcare Executive, where he discussed the role of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) interim report in galvanizing legislators, as well as his predictions on what provisions the potential PBM legislation might contain.

Q&A: Discussing Cebranopadol’s Potential in Pain Management

Cebranopadol, a first-in-class dual-NMR agonist that was developed by Tris Pharma, has shown positive results in recent clinical studies and could be a “potentially transformational new pain therapy.” In a recent interview with Drug Topics, Albert Dahan, MD, PhD, professor of anesthesiology at Leiden University Medical Center, discussed how cebranopadol is different from traditional opioids, how it will fit into the broader landscape of pain management therapies, current gaps that exist in pain management and how the therapy might help address them, and what the next steps are for cebranopadol.

GSK Announces Positive Topline Data for Co-Administration of RSV, Shingles Vaccines

GSK reported positive topline data from a phase 3 study in adults 50 years and older assessing the immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine (Arexvy) when co-administered with its recombinant zoster vaccine for shingles (Shingrix), in a news release. The data were presented as a late-breaking abstract at the European Geriatric Medicine Society Congress taking place September 18 to 20 in Valencia, Spain.

Cigna’s PBM Express Scripts Files Lawsuit in Response to July FTC Report

In 2022, the FTC launched an inquiry into the 6 largest PBMs—CVS Caremark, Optum Rx, Express Scripts, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, Prime Therapeutics, and MedImpact Healthcare Systems. After 2 years of investigation, the Commission released its interim staff report, also known as a 6(b) report, detailing how these PBMs control a significant portion of the market, discouraging competition and utilizing vertical integration to increase profits. Since the release of this report in early July, Express Scripts has been the first PBM to take action.

Understanding Childhood Obesity: The 5 Most Common Interventions

Childhood obesity in the US has become an increasingly growing issue within the past 30 years. Those who experience obesity at a young age are at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases and disabilities later in their lives. In order to avoid long-term health complications because of improperly managing weight at a young age, it’s important for children, their parents, and their families to understand the multiple ways to manage obesity as an adolescent.

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