STAT+: Pharmalittle: Four Democratic senators may delay Medicare drug price reform; Western Covid vaccine stockpiles to hit 600M doses by year’s end
And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is modest. We plan to stage a listening party, tidy up the Pharmalot grounds, and promenade with the energetic official mascot. And what about you? Have you procured apples and pumpkins yet? If not, there is still time. You could boost the economy and buy some winter gear, assuming inventories are available. Or you could convince someone to get vaccinated. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon …
The fate of the Democratic party’s ambitious goal of allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices rests with a handful of key moderate senators, STAT notes. Negotiations on the exact scope of the reforms heated up this week after months of stalemate. But as lawmakers push to compile an outline of the massive domestic spending package that forms a cornerstone of President Biden’s domestic agenda, consensus on drug pricing policies has proved elusive. Besides Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), the list of potential holdouts includes Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, from President Biden’s home state of Delaware, and Bob Menendez of New Jersey, which is home to many drug makers.
Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…
