Medicare and Medicaid won’t have to cover GLP-1s for weight loss: The Trump administration rejected a proposal that would have improved access to the drugs for millions of Americans. The consequences will be greater for patients than for Big Pharma.
Healthcare companies slashed marketing budgets in 2024: This points to lower spending, but also more efficiency as companies move from traditional expensive TV plans to more targeted TV, digital, and social media.
GoodRx rolls out expanded online pharmacy services: Consumers fill medications and pay for them on GoodRx’s platform. Struggling drugstore chains can partner with GoodRx and improve their customers’ pharmacy experiences.
Senate confirms Dr. Oz to lead CMS: Reducing Medicare Advantage overpayments could be a priority for Oz and his team. Looming cuts to Medicaid will be tougher to justify.
Hims to offer brand-name GLP-1s despite snub from Eli Lilly: Hims appears to have burned bridges with the two biggest GLP-1 drugmakers and consequently could lose customers to rivals selling weight loss drugs at a discount.
Pharma companies sidestepped the Trump administration's broad tariff orders: It’s a pharma win for tariffs, but the president’s comments on foreign tax breaks and manufacturing reshoring demands still signal potential for challenges ahead.
FTC pauses lawsuit against Big 3 PBMs: But we don’t envision the case falling apart. There’s too much bipartisan support around lessening the influence PBMs have over drug pricing and pharmacy reimbursement.
Once valued at $100 billion in 2015, Walgreens Boots Alliance has seen its market value plummet to approximately $10 billion today, with shares down 45% in the last 12 months—making it the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 in 2024.
AI medical scribes reduce doctor burnout, but cost savings are unclear: A new report highlights tactical benefits of the tech for health systems, but tech companies need to demonstrate how their tools deliver long-term financial benefits.
Oura debuts AI Advisor, Apple plans AI doctor in health app revamp: AI health agents add personalized advice and recommendations, but they should be viewed as helpful advice versus medical assessments.
Top vaccine official at FDA forced out by RFK Jr., Makary: It’s becoming clearer that Kennedy will surround himself with people who share his viewpoints on vaccines.
Novo Nordisk inks licensing agreement for oral weight loss drug candidate: Novo wants to find out if patients could benefit from a weight loss drug pill after they use one of its blockbuster GLP-1s.
Eli Lilly adds Alzheimer’s treatments, resources to D2C platform: Lilly is progressing its D2C online offerings even as lawmakers ramp up scrutiny of drugmaker-telehealth partnerships.
Consumers reject AI-written doctor’s notes: Patients' demand for transparent messaging from physicians is a reminder for pharma and healthcare companies to make sure their marketing messages are transparent too.
Makary named FDA commissioner, federal health agency layoffs could soon follow: Pharma companies could face slower approvals and more scrutiny of their products, treatments, and prices.
Amazon tests AI chatbot for consumer health questions: Amazon’s experimental Health AI chatbot could drive engagement with its One Medical and pharma services..
26% of US adults take 4+ prescription drugs daily: This cohort is the most likely to struggle with affording their meds. Pharma marketers need to raise awareness of cost-saving offerings to boost medication adherence among patients.
23andMe files for bankruptcy: A sale could give the acquiring company access to 15 million people’s genetic data. 23andMe’s downfall is a reminder of the risks when tech companies collect sensitive health data and struggle to sufficiently protect it.
Consumers blame Insurers, pharma for the state of US healthcare: Both industries continue to face serious trust issues with consumers that marketing alone won’t fix.