1. AstraZeneca is working with genome pioneer Craig Venter on an initiative to sequence two million human genomes as it seeks to better understand genetic variations and how that information can help the company develop new drugs. (Reuters)
2. Valeant Pharmaceuticals is negotiating with Joseph Papa, currently the CEO of Perrigo, to take over as its new chief executive, sources told The Wall Street Journal. If he is named CEO, Papa would replace J. Michael Pearson. (WSJ)
3. The American Medical Association and PhRMA, the drug industry’s lobbying group, each spent about $6 million on lobbying in the first quarter of 2016. (Politico)
4. Patients with marketplace plans have better access to specialty drugs they need to treat conditions like cancer, HIV, and multiple sclerosis in 2016 than they did in years past. However, many of the plans still require significant amounts of cost sharing for patients, according to a new report from Avalere Health. (Kaiser Health News)
5. New York-Presbyterian Hospital said it will pay a $2.2 million fine for allowing television crews to film two patients without their consent. The crew was filming NY Med, an ABC show. (ProPublica)
