Welcome to the Week in Review.
Uncertainty Around MFPs with Recent Trump GLP-1 Deal
With President Trump’s GLP-1 pricing deals dominating headlines, the ongoing Medicare negotiation program appears to have taken a backseat — despite the fact that the second round of maximum fair prices (MFPs) is required to be announced by the end of November. The new prices, which cover 15 drugs including Ozempic and Wegovy, are expected to take effect in 2027 and should deliver significant savings for millions of patients on Medicare. Despite broad support from Americans on both sides of the aisle, the president has said little about the program in recent months. Instead, the administration has leaned on voluntary agreements with drugmakers. And while those deals are highly visible and offer potentially quick wins, the Medicare Negotiation Program remains the nation’s most consequential and durable tool for lowering prescription drug prices. Patients are eagerly awaiting the new, lower negotiated prices. — [White House, AV, NBC News, P4AD]
Congress Is Back — Here’s What We’re Watching
There are only a few weeks of session left this year, and we’re closely monitoring any movement on drug pricing legislation and keeping the pressure up for lawmakers to stand behind patients. In addition, the newly-enacted Continuing Resolution (CR) runs through January 30, which creates an opportunity for a health extenders package come January. Here’s what our community is pushing for
- ✅ The Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act: Passed the Senate unanimously last year, and would limit the number of patents a drug company can assert on a biologic drug. It’s a key reform to stop Big Pharma from blocking biosimilar competition through patent thickets and keeping prices high.
- ✅ The ETHIC Act: Bipartisan measure that would streamline the patent process and limit drug companies to one patent at a time, making the harmful practice of patent thicketing significantly harder.
- ✅ The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act and Q1/Q2, a provision of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act: Policies that would streamline approvals processes by deeming biosimilars interchangeable with FDA approval and simplifying rejections — making it easier for generic alternatives and biosimilars to come to market and saving taxpayers millions.
And here’s what patients are focused on stopping:
🛑 The EPIC Act and The MINI Act: Industry-backed proposals that would delay Medicare negotiation for small-molecule drugs and genetically targeted technologies (GTTs) for an additional four years. Both would drive up costs for patients and taxpayers — echoing the same pharma giveaways seen in the recently passed $8.8 billion ORPHAN Cures Act.
Patient Advocate Spotlight: Emmabella Rudd
Background: Florida State University student, documentary producer, and insulin accessibility advocate since her diagnosis at 5 years old.
Condition: Type 1 Diabetes
Drug: Insulin ($3,000 per year)
In her words: “It’s frustrating to see pharmaceutical companies bask in the protection of numerous patents around their insulin products. They’re interested in appearing concerned about drug affordability, but their efforts are always superficial and short-lived. Drug companies need to remember that their actions affect real human lives, and at the end of the day, the people will have the power.”
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