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Welcome to Day One of NAVLIN’s Pharma Pricing & Access Innovation Conference (PPIC) at the Mövenpick Hotel in Basel!After an energizing workshop day, it’s time to dive into the first day of the conference with a packed agenda of expert insights and global perspectives from the NAVLIN team, industry speakers and payersRead on to find out more about what’s in store today
Today was the pre-conference workshop day of NAVLIN's Pharma Pricing & Access Innovation Conference (PPIC) at the Mövenpick in BaselAttendees joined us to engage in pre-conference interactive workshops on international reference pricing (IRP), the future of healthcare policy under the Trump administration, and estimating PICOs for JCAs – among other topics!We're looking forward to welcoming the rest of the attendees tomorrow, for another day of interactive discussions about key insights and best practices to manage pricing globally
Welcome to the pre-conference workshop day of NAVLIN's Pharma Pricing & Access Innovation Conference (PPIC) in BaselToday, attendees can explore U.S. policy outlooks under the Trump administration and engage in practical exercises on PICOs and data-driven HEOR model planning for EU JCA successLearn how to use advanced AI tools for pricing and access, master prompt engineering, and help shape NAVLIN’s AI development roadmap. Read on for more!

As reported earlier this month, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Health has introduced sweeping amendments to the "Pricing Rules for Medicines," overhauling how prices are calculated, regulated, and documentedNAVLIN Daily can now report that the reform is backed by data from the NAVLIN Price & Access Data system, which was used to calculate average maximum prices in ten reference countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey, and UzbekistanAccording to Asset Tuyakbayev, Head of Digitalization at the National Center, “NAVLIN helps to compare with international practices and objectively justify price levels, especially for expensive and widely used drugs… The system is actively used in calculating new maximum prices. In particular, NAVLIN helps to determine the average cost of drugs in reference countries, which directly affects the price level within the framework of the guaranteed volume of medical care, compulsory medical insurance and on the retail market.”
Acknowledging that previous years’ consultation processes were not comprehensive, the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Management Agency (Pharmac) kicked off a multi-round public consultation on brand changes for the latest annual tender process The 2024/25 tender process is partially complete, with roughly 40% of tendered items potentially subject to a brand change“When a medicine is no longer under patent, suppliers can offer generic versions, which are often more affordable,” said Pharmac’s Director Pharmaceuticals, Geraldine MacGibbon
The Danish Medicines Council has found that three enzyme replacement therapies, Sanofi's Myozyme (alglucosidase alfa), Nexviadyme (avalglucosidase alfa), and Amicus Therapeutics’ Pombiliti (cipaglucosidase alfa) in combination with Opfolda (miglustat), are equally effective and safe for treating late-onset Pompe diseaseThis marks a shift from earlier decisions when two of the treatments were rejected due to high prices, which can reach DKK 2 to 3 million per patient annually for lifelong use.With clinical equivalence confirmed, new treatment guidelines allow Amgros to launch a tender process aimed at encouraging price competition and improving cost-effectiveness for the healthcare system.
Novartis has launched a new financing scheme in India to improve access to its cholesterol-lowering injectable drug, Sybrava (inclisiran) This first-of-its-kind initiative in India includes a zero-interest monthly payment plan. Patients can pay INR 15,000-16,000 (approximately USD 180 to 192) per month, covering the drug's full cost of INR 1.2 lakh (approximately USD 1,440) per injection. In addition to the EMI plan, Novartis offers the second injection at no cost when patients purchase the first dose, though the first must be paid for in full via the installment planThe injection schedule involves an initial dose, a second dose after 90 days, followed by one dose every six months
Novo Nordisk plans to launch its weight-loss drug, Wegovy (semaglutide), in India this year. Pricing details for Wegovy in India are yet to be disclosedIn an email to a local media source, the company confirmed: “We are introducing Wegovy (injectable semaglutide 2.4 mg) this year, which offers the full therapeutic strength of semaglutide for comprehensive weight management and obesity treatment.”The launch will directly compete with Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug Mounjaro (semaglutide) in the Indian market, priced at USD 50.67 for a 5 mg vial and USD 40.54 for a 2.5 mg vial
At Life Sciences Pricing & Contracting USA, leaders from Independence Blue Cross and Evio, a joint venture that brings together six plans, presented their progress in developing new strategic alternatives to the traditional PBM systemAfter experiencing challenges surrounding PBM contracts with Optum Rx, Independence Blue Cross re-negotiated its contract for one drug: the biologic Humira (adalimumab) and switched 92% of patients to a biosimilar in 30 daysThrough direct purchase and value-based contracts, Evio has had multiple plans take advantage of Humira and Stelara (ustekinumab) at competitive prices--It has also negotiated contracts for cell and gene therapies
At Life Sciences Pricing & Contracting USA, attendees were reminded to speak up to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) about what should be done to improve its programs, and John Shakow, Partner, King & Spalding LLP sparked inspiration with several of his own policy initiative proposals Amid divisive state legal challenges, he said: “HRSA needs to find a way to at least issue guidance stating that it is its responsibility to administer the 340B program...There needs to be national coordination"The expert reminded the audience that a fundamental tenet of MDRP is that it is voluntary--Shakow believes manufacturers should maintain some level of independence on whether or not they participate in Medicaid: “My call is for CMS to seriously articulate what establishes independence for this purpose”