Here are the latest stories being discussed in biopharma today:

Medicare and Medicaid Extend Coverage of Anti-Obesity Drugs for Heart Patients

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have stated that anti-obesity drugs can now be covered for patients using them for additional medical conditions, significantly expanding access for patients within government health programs. The move seemed to focus on cardiovascular benefits, specifically relating to a new class of obesity drugs known as GLP-1s, exemplified by Novo Nordisk’s drug Wegovy.

Diabetes and Weight Loss Drug Advertising Exceeds $1B on Back of GLP-1 Brand Spending

Last year, GLP-1 brand advertising pushed combined diabetes and weight loss prescription drug spending past $1 billion, constituting an increase of more than 50% from the previous year. It is predicted that spending in this category will continue to rise throughout 2024.

Merck’s Keytruda-Lynparza Combo Fails Again in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Merck’s combination therapy of PD-1 blockbuster Keytruda and AstraZeneca’s PARP inhibitor Lynparza reported no survival benefits for certain first-line nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, marking another failure for the therapy. The combo also failed to meet its secondary endpoint of progression-free survival.

GSK Joins Efforts to Cap Out-of-pocket Costs for Inhalers

GSK will cap out-of-pocket costs for its inhalers at $35, making it the third major drugmaker to agree to limit patients’ spending amid significant US political pressure over the price of commonly used medications. The cost cap and price reduction for their inhalers will begin no later than January 1, 2025.

Global AIDS Program Renewed in Government Spending Package

Governments have agreed to renew a key global AIDS relief program as part of the government’s spending package. Lawmakers, however, renewed the program for only a year, shorter than the typical five-year authorization timeline. The program, called the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has managed to save approximately 25 million lives globally since its conception in 2003.

Kentucky Fourth State to Encourage Use of Biosimilar Prescriptions before Branded Versions

Kentucky has passed a law allowing insurers to encourage patients to try biosimilar medicines before covering branded equivalents. Governor Andy Beshear signed the bill hoping to expand access to lower-cost medicines.