Congress is facing a Sept. 30 deadline to reauthorize the “user fee” program which partially funds the Food and Drug Administration. While the pharma industry sees the program as effective in accelerating drug development and approvals, some patient advocates say it jeopardizes the agency’s regulation of drugs. (The New York Times)
Intellia Therapeutics announced its CRISPR-based treatment was safe and effective in correcting dysfunctional DNA in liver cells among patients with a rare genetic disorder. The study found that gene editing reduced levels of a protein called kallikrein, thus decreasing swelling associated with hereditary angioedema. (STAT News)
AbbVie and Bristol Myers Squibb are reportedly planning to lay off 360 employees by November. BMS noted that layoffs are related to its acquisition of Turning Point Therapeutics last month. AbbVie will let go of 99 employees at its Irvine, California facility and BMS will lay off 261 people across two San Diego sites. (Endpoints News)
Scientists are worried that the global monkeypox outbreak is giving the virus an unprecedented opportunity to adapt to humans. Since May, the monkeypox virus has been spreading around the globe, prompting the question: will it evolve to become more contagious or cause more severe disease? (Science)
Drug pricing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act may benefit workers and employers, according to a new analysis based on Congressional Budget Office data. The analysis found that Medicare’s new ability to negotiate certain drug prices could result in $31.5 billion in savings for employers and employees over the next decade. (MarketWatch)
