Global Scans · Pharmaceuticals · Weekly Summary

• [New] The first cohort of 10 negotiated drug prices will take effect in 2026, projected to save beneficiaries $1.5 billion in annual out-of-pocket expenses, setting a precedent for expanded affordability across Part D plans. Total RX
• [New] The U.K. government's drug rebate tax will fall to 14.5% for new drugs in 2026 - down from nearly 23%. MM+M - Medical Marketing and Media
• [New] Recruitment will begin by midyear 2026, subject to the completion of clinical-grade drug manufacturing and regulatory approvals. GlobeNewswire
• [New] By technology platform, the AI-driven drug discovery tools segment is set to grow at a notable CAGR between 2026 and 2035. Precedence Research
• [New] A major drug price deal between the U.S. and U.K. governments could be finalized as early as this week. MM+M - Medical Marketing and Media
• [New] Drug resistance threatens progress made over the last two decades and could reverse gains toward ending AIDS and controlling hepatitis and STIs as public health threats. Contagion Live
• [New] WHO leaders emphasize that the next five years will be critical for strengthening prevention coverage, improving retention in care, and scaling systems capable of detecting and responding to emerging drug resistance. Contagion Live
• [New] The federal government has announced the results of the latest round of Medicare drug price negotiations: 15 lower drug prices for Medicare to go into effect in 2027. NPR
• [New] Researchers are studying an oral version of semaglutide along with another experimental GLP-1 drug, orforglipron, for weight loss - with expectations for FDA approval in 2026. Oprah Daily
• [New] Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk will launch its blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic in India this month, three sources familiar with the matter said, as it seeks to strengthen its foothold in the world's most populous nation. Economic Times
• [New] Two novel peptides derived from Protagonist's proprietary discovery platform are currently in advanced Phase 3 clinical development, with New Drug Application for icotrokinra submitted to the FDA in July and in the NDA submission for rusfertide expected by end of 2025. financialpost
• [New] The release of the European Medicines Agency's Annex 22 on artificial intelligence represents a seismic shift in how AI will be governed in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Forbes
• [New] The Department of Energy will build an AI-enabled platform to support research in areas such as energy, national security, and drug discovery. / USA MarketingProfs
• [New] The FDA will consider a supplemental new drug application for deucravacitinib for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis based on promising results from clinical trials. The Rheumatologist
• [New] With potentially as much as one quarter of all APIs sourced from China directly - or indirectly through India - U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains face a vulnerability that could have drastic consequences for the American healthcare system. Talking Logistics with Adrian Gonzalez
• [New] GLP-1 drug use was linked to a 0.77 adjusted hazard ratio for death and a higher likelihood of kidney transplant waitlisting. NYU Langone News
• [New] Virginia HB 2375 strengthens prescription drug price transparency by requiring Pharmacy Services Administrative Organizations to disclose reimbursement terms and fees to the pharmacies they represent. The Source on Healthcare Price and Competition
• [New] GSK's asthma medication, Trelegy Ellipta, will receive a 73% cut, and Xtandi, a prostate cancer drug, will be reduced by 48%. Alston & Bird
• [New] Alcohol and drug use disorders, self-harm and interpersonal violence together create a huge and growing burden of disease, with high disability and death rates, and trends projected to stay high up to 2040. Pragmatic Coders

Last updated: 16 December 2025