Here are the latest stories being discussed in biopharma today:

**Pharma Conceals Initial IRA Offers From Government**

As the inaugural round of government price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act begins, pharma companies are keeping quiet on the initial price offers presented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Despite the medication manufacturers’ reluctance to disclose information, the transparency of the negotiation process has been called into question by the industry’s D.C. lobbying group.

**Republican Bid to Level Playing Field Between Small Molecule Drugs and Biologicals**

More than 40 House Republicans have sponsored a bill to synchronize the negotiation times for small molecule drugs and biological agents under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The aim is to extend the negotiation periods for small molecule drugs from nine to 13 years, aligning them with biologicals’ negotiation times. Critics suggest this discrepancy discourages small molecule research and investment.

**CFO Exits Takeda Amidst Cuts to Pipeline**

Takeda’s CFO, Costa Saroukos, is stepping down and will be succeeded by the corporation’s Japan Pharma Business Unit President, Milano Furuta, from April 1. This coincides with Takeda announcing a series of cuts to its clinical-stage programs, including several early-stage CAR-T efforts. This decision aligns with Takeda’s strategic priority of developing allogeneic cell therapies.

**Column Group Launches $400M Fund for Single-Asset Biologicals**

Investment firm, Column Group, has raised $400 million for a new fund. The funds will be used to back single-asset biologicals companies, through collaborations with researchers and drug hunters at the Bay Area R&D hub, Soleil. Soleil will oversee discovery work and early human testing, aiming to subsequently sell the single-asset entities to larger pharmaceutical companies.

**Astellas Addresses Menopause in Superbowl Ad**

Pharmaceutical firm, Astellas, returned to the Super Bowl with another commercial addressing menopause. The ad takes the form of a 60-second feature for Veozah, a recently approved menopause medication. The ad will continue the campaign “Fewer Hot Flashes, More Not Flashes,” launched in October.

**AGC Biologics Receives Form 483 From FDA**

Contract development and manufacturing organization, AGC Biologics, has received a Form 483 from the FDA following inspection of their Bothell, Washington site. Reported issues include failure to conduct appropriate investigations into product batch discrepancies, lack of quality control, and inadequate measures to prevent contamination.