In August 2022, Congress passed the IRA, which includes prescription drug provisions that have significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry and Medicare beneficiaries, including allowing the federal government to negotiate a maximum fair price for certain high-priced single source Medicare drugs, imposing penalties and excise tax for manufacturers that fail to comply with the drug price negotiation requirements, requiring inflation rebates for all Medicare Part B and Part D drugs, with limited exceptions, if their drug prices increase faster than inflation, and redesigning Medicare Part D to reduce out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for beneficiaries, among other changes. Only high-expenditure single-source drugs that have been approved for at least 7 years (11 years for single-source biologics) can qualify for negotiation, with the negotiated price taking effect 2 years after the selection year. For 2026, the first year in which negotiated prices become effective, CMS selected 10 high-cost Medicare Part D drugs in 2023, negotiations began in 2024, and the negotiated maximum fair price for each drug has been announced. CMS has selected 15 additional Medicare Part D drugs for negotiated maximum fair pricing in 2027. For 2028, up to an additional 15 drugs, which may be covered under either Medicare Part B or Part D, will be selected, and for 2029 and subsequent years, up to 20 additional Medicare Part B or Part D drugs will be selected. Various industry stakeholders, including certain pharmaceutical companies and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, have initiated lawsuits against the federal government asserting that the price negotiation provisions of the IRA are unconstitutional. The impact of these judicial challenges, legislative, executive, and administrative actions and any future healthcare measures and agency rules on us and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole is unclear. Cost control initiatives could cause us, or our collaborators, to decrease, discount, or rebate a portion of the price we, or they, might establish for products, which could result in lower than anticipated product revenues. If the prices realized for our approved product or other product candidates, if any, decrease or if governmental and other third-party payors do not provide adequate coverage or reimbursement, our prospects for revenues and profitability will suffer.
All entries for: Infectious Diseases
AbCellera
Negative Outlook
Vancouver, BC
501-1,000 employees
In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which includes prescription drug provisions that have significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry and Medicare beneficiaries, including allowing the federal government to negotiate a maximum fair price for certain high-priced single-source Medicare drugs, imposing penalties and excise tax for manufacturers that fail to comply with the drug price negotiation requirements, requiring inflation rebates for all Medicare Part B and Part D drugs, with limited exceptions, if their drug prices increase faster than inflation, and redesigning Medicare Part D to reduce out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for beneficiaries, among other changes. Various industry stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Infusion Center Association, the Global Colon Cancer Association, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, have initiated lawsuits against the federal government asserting that the price negotiation provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act are unconstitutional. The impact of these judicial challenges, legislative, executive, and administrative actions and any future healthcare measures and agency rules implemented by the government on us and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole is unclear. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our product candidates if approved.
Abpro Holdings
Neutral Outlook
Woburn, MA
1-50 employees
The outcomes of these challenges on the IRA, and the effect of the IRA on our business and the healthcare industry in general, are not yet known.
ImmunityBio - San Diego
Negative Outlook
San Diego, CA
501-1,000 employees
The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our product candidates if approved. Complying with any new legislation and regulatory changes could be timeintensive and expensive, resulting in a material adverse effect on our business.
Inc
Negative Outlook
We cannot predict the ultimate content, timing or effect of any changes to the ACA, the Inflation Reduction Act, or other federal and state healthcare policy reform efforts including those aimed at drug pricing. There is no assurance that federal or state health care reform will not adversely affect our future business and financial results, and we cannot predict how future federal or state legislative, judicial or administrative changes relating to healthcare policy will affect our business.
AbCellera Biologics
Negative Outlook
British Columbia
501-1,000 employees
The implementation of cost containment measures, including the prescription drug provisions under the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our product candidates if approved. Complying with any new legislation and regulatory changes could be time-intensive and expensive, resulting in a material adverse effect on our business
CorMedix
Negative Outlook
Berekely Heights, NJ
51-200 employees
The U.S. government enacted the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Inflation Reduction Act or IRA). The IRA brought sweeping changes to Medicare coverage and reimbursement for prescription drugs that could negatively impact us and other pharmaceutical manufacturers. Of note, beginning January 1, 2025, the eliminates the Medicare Part D coverage gap, and reduces a beneficiary’s out-of-pocket maximum to $2,000. The existing coverage gap discount program for pharmaceutical manufacturers will be replaced by a new manufacturer discount program effective in 2025. Under the new program, manufacturers will provide a 10 percent discount off the negotiated price for applicable drugs (branded drugs and biologics manufactured by companies that have Part D discount agreements) after the deductible is satisfied through the catastrophic phase of the benefit. In the catastrophic phase, manufacturers will provide a 20 percent discount off negotiated price. Any reduction in reimbursement rates under Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurers could negatively affect the pricing of our products. If we are not able to charge a sufficient amount for our products, then our margins and our profitability will be adversely affected.
TC BioPharm
Layoffs
Motherwell, United Kingdom
51-200 employees
TC BioPharm is letting go around 20 employees, or approximately half of its headcount, in line with its push to become a “leaner and more agile” company with a more decentralized model. The workforce reduction is part of a larger shift within the company toward a CDMO model, allowing it to respond to larger production demands for future trials, as well as giving it the opportunity to look for alternative manufacturing facilities that can incorporate more advanced technologies. The layoffs will mostly affect employees in the company’s production and quality units and will be “substantially complete” by the end of the second quarter.