Denise Myshko

Ivonescimab is a first-in-class PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody that achieved 28-month median survival in advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Dana-Farber’s Katherine Janeway, M.D., discusses how reimbursement policies for molecular diagnostics have failed to keep pace with scientific evidence, leaving gaps in the care for pediatric bone cancer patients.

A collagen implant that releases radiation after brain tumor surgery reduced cancer recurrence and increased overall survival, according to results presented at ASCO’s annual meeting.

Dana-Farber’s Katherine Janeway, M.D., discusses how molecular biomarkers inform treatment decisions in children and adolescents with the bone cancers Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma.

Afrezza is an inhaled insulin and the first needle-free insulin option for children with diabetes.

Hepcludex is an antiviral to treat adults living with chronic hepatitis D virus infection, a serious liver disease that occurs as a co-infection in people with chronic hepatitis B virus.

GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs may reduce cancer progression in lung, breast, colorectal and liver cancers by 38% to 50%, and high GLP-1 receptor expression correlates with 33% lower mortality risk.

By targeting a specific pathway, the mineralocorticoid receptor, Kerendia is able to stop the cascade of inflammation and fibrosis that leads to kidney disease.

Milliman’s Medical Index finds delivery system consolidation, specialty drug growth, and site-of-care shifts are contributing to employee healthcare costs.

GLP-1 medications, especially for diabetes, will remain an influential cost driver in drug spending this year, supported by broader prescriber adoption and patient demand.

Navitus clients saw prescription drug costs rise 8.4% in 2025, driven by specialty medications, GLP-1s, oncology and dermatology spending.

The FDA approved two new cancer drugs this week, one for rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma and another for elderly acute myeloid leukemia patients.

21 million U.S. adults reported pain disrupting daily life despite having no formal pain-related diagnosis, finds an analysis done by researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington.

Optum Rx will shift to flat, per-member fees by 2027, eliminating spread pricing and passing 100% of drug rebates directly to clients.

Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have created an organs-on-a-chip system that could provide a way to study pancreatic cancer biology and predict how therapies may perform in patients.

More people stop taking the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) drugs for weight loss than is commonly recognized. Insurance coverage is patchy, but for those who do have it, some pharmacy benefit managers have launched programs designed to help keep people keep taking their GLP-1.

A survey from the Business Group on Health finds that employers covering GLP-1 weight loss drugs are reconsidering that coverage in 2027 due to high costs.

MedImpact’s Arpit Patel argues that a focus on net costs instead of rebates could save money for both payers and patients.

CVS Caremark instead will favor the biosimilars Pyzchiva and Yesintek and provide the anti-arthritis drugs for a $0 copay.

The FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of Aug. 25, 2026, for the combination of Tevimbra/Ziihera as a first-line treatment for advanced cancers of the stomach, gastroesophageal junction, and esophagus.

Cebranopadol, a first-in-class dual NOP/MOP receptor agonist, relieves moderate-to-severe acute pain after surgery while reducing abuse risks compared with oxycodone.

Cigna will exit the ACA individual exchange market by 2027 and has already launched Evernorth Signature Pharmacy Benefits Services, a rebate-free PBM model, which will become the standard model for all clients in 2028.

Andrew Mellin, M.D., discusses Surescripts’ pilot program for prior authorization system, which pulls clinical data from EHRs and matches it against payer criteria.

There have been tremendous advances in specialty drugs, but those advances have also brought a lot of complexity for payers. Payers are considering new strategies for their specialty benefit.

Rebates aren’t disappearing, but PSG's 2026 survey suggests payers increasingly favor lower net costs, biosimilars and price transparency over traditional specialty drug rebate programs.

This action follows an Executive Order issued earlier this week to speed review of psychedelic drugs that have shown potential to treat serious mental health issues

Major health insurers say they have cut prior authorizations, but the AMA says physicians report that the burden of prior authorization remains high.

Regeneron is making Otarmeni, which treats patients with biallelic variants in the OTOF gene, available at no cost. This is the second therapy that was approved under the FDA’s new National Priority Voucher program.

In an earning call, UnitedHealth Group executives, including CEO Stephen Hemsley, discussed the company’s strategy, which is focused value-based care, its Medicare Advantage programs transparency, AI and its transparency efforts.