1. Eli Lilly said in a report that after raising list prices of some of its medicines by 14%, it only saw 2.4% of that increase. Lilly’s argument is becoming a common refrain for drugmakers criticized for their high prices: List prices don’t tell the whole story. (Bloomberg)
2. The American Healthcare Act was tweaked ahead of its scheduled vote in the House of Representatives on Thursday night. The new manager’s amendment will allow states to choose to receive Medicaid block grants and let them attach an optional work requirement for Medicaid eligibility, while Obamacare taxes would get repealed a year earlier than in the original plan. (Axios)
3. In recent months four bills have been brought to Congress aimed at bringing more transparency to the pricing of prescription drugs, including one targeting pharmacy benefit managers. As drugmakers decry high rebates negotiated and revenue pocketed by PBMs, the focus of drug pricing has begun to shift toward the role of these middlemen. (Newsweek)
4. Sanofi is projecting higher sales on increased demand from China. The Paris-based drugmaker said it expects drug sales in China to grow by 10% this year. (WSJ)
5. ICYMI: Valeant Pharmaceuticals International expects revenue to continue to decline in 2017 to between $8.9 and $9.1 billion. One of its biggest investors, Bill Ackman’s hedge fund Pershing Square, recently sold its stake in the company. (MarketRealist)
