Hims & Hers pushes for partnership with Eli Lilly to sell discounted Zepbound: Hims recently inked a similar deal with Novo, and we think the market opportunity is too big for Lilly to pass up.
Online mental health visits are driving telehealth use: Pharma companies and healthcare providers should consider partnering with psychotherapy providers to offer mental health patients more options than meds alone.
Spending on prescription drugs in the US grew 11.4% last year: IQVIA projects spending to keep increasing through 2029. Lowering Rx costs is emerging as a key priority for the Trump admin—much to the dismay of pharma.
Gilead joins pharma companies that are boosting US manufacturing amid Trump-induced challenges: Gilead Sciences faces unique challenges as a leading HIV drugmaker—Trump’s tariff threats coincide with cuts to global HIV programs and LGBTQ+ healthcare initiatives.
Rite Aid files for bankruptcy for the second time in less than two years: The convenience store + pharmacy model is broken. Success in this space for standalone pharmacies will hinge on providing a first-rate experience for customers buying medications while reformatting stores to prioritize health and wellness products instead of household items and snacks.
Trump asks regulators to make it easier to build US drug manufacturing sites: Drugmakers should wait for the precise tariff rate on the sector—set to come within two weeks—before investing in more domestic infrastructure.
Americans aren’t confident that federal health agencies ensure safe and effective drugs: Pharma marketers need to lean on individual physicians and local health agencies to help consumers understand the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs and vaccines.
Function Health acquires Ezra, drops price of full-body MRI scan: Whole-body MRI screenings are out of most people’s price range. Marketers and influencers fueling the preventative wellness trend should also remind consumers of lower-cost, more accessible services.
Direct-to-patient models could pay off for pharma: But if pharma companies bypass middlemen such as insurers and PBMs, they’ll need to pay attention to where patients see the biggest needs for improvement to their healthcare experience— and not just try to fill as many new prescriptions as possible.
The majority of US adults oppose federal cuts to health agencies: While 61% of people are against staff and funding cuts to Medicaid and public health programs. It’s unlikely Congress and the Trump administration can pass the budget they want without doing so, leaving states and health companies to deal with shortfalls.
Trump admin invests $500M for universal vaccine project: Perhaps the administration isn’t as anti-vax as publicly perceived. However, vaccine makers are still on high alert as approval timelines for vaccines undergoing trials could get pushed back.
CVS puts Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (not Lilly’s Zepbound) on commercial drug formularies: Market reaction to the decision affirms how much influence PBMs like CVS Caremark have over prescription drug access. Eli Lilly may need to explore creative pricing strategies to improve access to Zepbound.
Experts at Publicis’ HealthFront event recommend partnering with influencers who have smaller followings: Brands and marketers must assess key factors such as target audience, budget, and alignment with a company’s mission.
Pharma gains confidence around threatened Trump administration tariffs on drug imports: Big Pharmas are notching wins with the Trump administration through new US manufacturing and national security commitments, which improves the potential for tariff exemptions or delays.
Novo Nordisk and Hims go from competitors to partners: The deal signals Novo’s desire to capture patients transitioning off compounded GLP-1s. All eyes turn to Eli Lilly, which at last check said it’s not affiliating with Hims.
Congress wants to end the pharma industry’s advertising expense write-offs: This has been proposed before, but under the new Trump administration’s anti-drug advertising stance, the bill could gain more traction and inspire other new rules.
Vaccine integrity project launched to counter medical misinformation: Vaccine makers have the tough job of currying favor with Trump’s health administration, while preserving the public’s trust in their medicines.
The compounded GLP-1 market suffers another setback as Novo wins court case: Ads on social media for compounded weight loss drugs are still prevalent. But they’ll soon be subject to stricter regulatory oversight now that Big Pharma’s brand-name GLP-1s are available again.
Healthcare providers ages 50-70 are the most avid digital enthusiasts: HCPs are leaning into digital channels, but adoption varies among age cohorts. We dig into which digital channels they prefer, and implications for pharma companies looking to engage with HCPs.
GLP-1 users improve their health habits: Patients on the meds exercise more and eat better. Health and wellness brands have an opportunity to build relationships with consumers who are seeking health-focused products and services.