- Californians Will Get More Information on What's Driving Prescription Drug Prices Under Law Signed by Governor Los Angeles Times by Melanie Mason — Gov. Jerry Brown approved a measure Monday to increase disclosure on prescription drug prices, the focal point of growing efforts to clamp down on climbing pharmaceutical costs. Supporters call the law the nation's most sweeping effort to make prescription drug pricing more transparent. The measure would require drugmakers to provide notice to health plans and other purchasers 60 days in advance of a planned price hike if the increase exceeds certain thresholds. The measure, SB 17 by state Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-Azusa), will also require health plans to submit an annual report to the state that details the most frequently prescribed drugs, those that are most expensive and those that have been subject to the greatest year-to-year price increase.
- Trump's Fastest Moving Agency Is Approving Drugs and Pleasing Wall Street Bloomberg News by Caroline Chen and James Paton — Gridlock under the Trump administration, particularly the repeated failures to repeal and replace Obamacare, is riveting the nation's attention. Yet at least one government agency is running smoothly -- and even accelerating its operations. The U.S Food and Drug Administration, under Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, is taking advantage of policy groundwork laid in past years to speed drug approvals. Thirty-four new drugs -- treating everything from cancer to rare genetic diseases -- have been approved so far this year. That's on pace to nearly double last year's approvals. So far, at least nine decisions came more than 20 days ahead of the FDA's scheduled action date. Wall Street is paying attention, with some portfolio managers shifting their strategies, anticipating faster approvals and less restrictive labels.