STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: Pelosi unveils aggressive drug pricing plan; Novartis says baby death not related to gene therapy

Good morning, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you, courtesy of a warm and shiny sun and a delicious cool breeze wafting across the Pharmalot campus. Moreover, a soothing quietude has descended upon us now that our short person has left for the local schoolhouse and our official mascot has taken up his snoozing position in a faraway corner. As for us, yes, we are brewing our ritual cups of stimulation — we favor hot-buttered rum today, for those keeping track. Meanwhile, here is the latest menu of interesting items for you. Hope you have a wonderful day and do keep in touch. …

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday formally unveiled her long-awaited plan to lower drug prices, giving Democrats an aggressive counter to the White House’s numerous and widely covered efforts to lower drug prices, STAT reports. The plan would enact an international price index, capping U.S. drug payments for Medicare at an average of foreign prices, and require the federal government to negotiate the cost of 250 prescription medicines, using the international price as a maximum price, and extend the negotiated price to insurers and the commercial market at large. The bill would also cap senior out-of-pocket drug expenses at $2,000 annually.

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