In an August 7 decision memo, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that Medicare will start covering nationwide CAR T-cell therapy for patients with certain cancers. “President Trump is committed to strengthening the Medicare program by ensuring that beneficiaries have access to new and potentially lifesaving treatments. As the first type of FDA-approved gene therapy, CAR T-cell […]
On Wednesday, a half dozen Utah life sciences companies loaded up power points, videos and sample products—from syringes and catheters to stroke technology and knee replacements—to talk with parents and students about career opportunities, as part of an evening Medical Innovations Pathways (MIP) orientation at Granite School District. Representatives from BD, Merit Medical, Nelson Labs, […]
On Wednesday, The Trump Administration announced a Safe Importation Action Plan – PDF* that outlines two potential pathways that could open the door to import lower cost drugs from Canada. However, no timeline has been specified for the plan, which will be formalized through agency rulemaking. Under Pathway 1, states, wholesalers or pharmacists could submit importation […]
Salt Lake City, UT (August 1, 2019) – Biomerics, a leading contract manufacturer for the interventional medical device market, is pleased to announce a merger with Northeast Laser & Electropolish (NLE), a Monroe, CT-based company. NLE provides contract manufacturing, laser processing, machining, and metal finishing services to a wide range of medical device manufacturers. The merger […]
On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee passed the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act (PDPRA) aimed at cutting drug prices in Medicare Part B and Part D, and Medicaid. The bill, crafted by committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and ranking member, Ron Wyden (D-OR), passed on a bipartisan vote of 19-9, with nine Republicans voting against […]
July 15, 2019– SALT LAKE CITY –Recursion, a next-gen biopharma company combining automated, experimental biology with artificial intelligence to discover and develop drugs at scale, today announced the closing of a $121 million Series C financing. The round was led by Baillie Gifford’s flagship investment trust, Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC, with participation by new […]
July 15, 2019– SALT LAKE CITY –Recursion, a next-gen biopharma company combining automated, experimental biology with artificial intelligence to discover and develop drugs at scale, today announced the closing of a $121 million Series C financing. The round was led by Baillie Gifford’s flagship investment trust, Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC, with participation by new […]
Rebate Rule Withdrawn Yesterday, the Trump Administration withdrew a controversial proposed rule aimed at ending many of the rebates that drug companies pay to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurers under Medicare. BioUtah, along with its national partners, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), had supported the […]
On June 19, the House passed a package of health-related FY 2020 Appropriations bills. The legislation, H.R. 2740, contained the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill which includes $41.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a $2 billion increase from this year’s funding level. The NIH funding includes $500 million […]
Drug pricing legislation moving through Congress could force medical device manufacturers to report the value of product samples given to certain healthcare providers. This could include free samples a doctor uses when educating patients on device use. AdvaMed and the Medical Device Manufacturers Association, along with state-based affiliates, including BioUtah, are urging policymakers to exclude […]
On May 27, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved four bills with bipartisan support, all aimed at lowering prescription drug costs. Taken together, the bills are intended to curb certain abusive practices by drug patent owners, such as “patent hopping,” and “patent thickets,” which some policymakers believe are being used to extend market exclusivity and block […]
Earlier this week, U.S. Representative Ben McAdams (D-UT-4) sent a bipartisan letter to House Democrat and Republican leadership, signed by 35 House freshman, urging prompt action to end the 2.3% excise tax on the sale of medical devices. The current tax moratorium will expire December 31, unless Congress acts to block its implementation. Recognizing the […]