Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. And it is getting off to a pleasant start here on the Pharmalot campus, where clear blue skies and comfy breezes are greeting us. As for the official mascots, they are happily snoozing in their respective corners. As for us, we are firing up the trusty kettle for another cup of stimulation. Our choice today is peppermint mocha. Of course, you are invited to join us. For the full experience, we are now hawking replicas — take a look. Meanwhile, here are a few items of interest. As always, do keep in touch. We appreciate feedback, criticism, and tips. …
Amid ongoing angst over prescription drug prices, the median net price for 202 newly launched medicines, when adjusted for inflation and manufacturer discounts, rose by 35% to $257,000 in 2025 from $190,000 in 2022, STAT writes, citing an analysis by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review and West Health. About one in four drugs launched in 2025 had an annual net price exceeding $500,000, while another 34% were priced between $200,000 and $500,000. At the same time, though, the most substantial increase in net launch prices occurred between 2022 and 2023; last year, there was a 2% decline.
Novo Nordisk disclosed that its next-generation experimental drug, CagriSema, showed 25% weight loss on average in women with obesity or overweight in a late-stage study, according to Reuters. CagriSema, viewed as a successor to its big-selling weight loss drug Wegovy, could help Novo claw back ground lost to Eli Lilly in the weight loss market. Wegovy faces patent expirations after 2030. Novo said a 2.4-milligram dose of CagriSema was associated with an average weight loss of 25% after 68 weeks in 2,309 women, compared with 3% weight loss in women on placebo. In the full trial of more than 3,400 adults, CagriSema led to 22.7% weight loss, below the 25% Novo had targeted.