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Medicines Australia is urging the government to boost funding for innovative medicines in the 2026-27 budget. The group is seeking faster access to medicines via the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), noting that patients face delays compared to other nationsThe group pointed out how Australia's valuation of innovative medicines falls below societal benchmarks and stressed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) policy is weakening Australia’s status in drug launch sequencingIt asked the government to commit to last year's HTA reform roadmap priorities in its upcoming budget to speed up drug listings, especially for rare disease treatments and vaccines
While MFN continues to bubble away in the background, last week, the CMS released the list of 15 prescription drugs selected for the third cycle of the IRA Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. For the first time, the list includes drugs covered under both Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Elsewhere in the world, Europe continued to face internal pressure as major French players like Pierre Fabre, Sanofi, and Servier announced plans to launch a breakaway industry association, while Britain faced the reality that it has become a “second-wave market” Time is running out – make sure you register to join us at EVERSANA’s Pharma Pricing & Contracting Innovation Conference (PCIC), which will take place March 9-10 in Tampa, Florida. Sign up here!
India's 2026–27 budget focuses on the healthcare sector, boosting funds for public schemes like PM-JAY, NHM, and PM-ABHIM to improve primary care, disease control, and infrastructure It provided customs duty exemptions on 17 cancer drugs and medicines for seven rare diseases, aiming to ease treatment costs. The government also intensifies its push for local biopharma production through the $1.2B Bio Pharma Shakti initiative, focusing on biologics, enhanced affordability, clinical research, and reduced importsThe overall allocation for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been increased to USD 12.83 billion, nearly 10% higher than the revised estimates for the previous financial year. A substantial share of this increase is directed toward the national health program and public healthcare delivery
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its list of the 15 prescription drugs that will be subject to the third cycle of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Medicare Drug Price Negotiation ProgramFor the first time, the list includes drugs payable under Medicare Part B, as well as products covered under Medicare Part D. CMS also selected one drug for renegotiation: Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly’s Tradjenta (linagliptin). Tradjenta was originally selected for the second round of price negotiations According to CMS, between November 2024 and October 2025, the 15 selected medicines accounted for approximately $27 billion in total prescription drug spending under Medicare Part B and Part D
India and the EU signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that removes up to 11% tariffs on most pharmaceuticals and medical devices. This will lower costs for Europe-made medicines like cancer therapies, biologics, and weight-loss drugs, making them more affordable in IndiaHailing the FTA, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Shri J P Nadda said, “India–EU FTA opens new doors for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Access to the $572.3 billion Pharma and MedTech market in the EU"Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), welcomed the conclusion of the agreement, adding, "Indian companies play a critical role in supplying affordable, quality-assured medicines to Europe, and noted that the expected removal of EU tariffs of up to 11% on pharmaceuticals would enhance trade and support greater access to innovative drugs for Indian patients"
The South Korean government's reform plan, including 40% cut in generic drug prices, has met backlash from the industry, which fears it will harm revenues, small companies, and new drug development. Officials argue that the plan will ensure health system sustainability and will positively restructure the industryAt a National Assembly meeting on Monday, critics cited past reforms that destabilized the market and offered suggestions such as gradual cuts, exemptions for companies investing in R&D, and support for domestic API productionThe government remains firm on the plan but is open to tweaking implementation timelines to mitigate uncertainty for the industry. Officials stressed that the system overhaul isn't just about saving funds but supporting innovation and stabilizing drug supply channels
France’s 2026 Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) includes a measure aimed at expanding the range of countries used to benchmark medicine and medical device prices in FranceAs reported, Article 34, reinstated by the National Assembly after having been deleted by the Senate, was carried under Article 88, page 91 of the Bill. It allows the Economic Committee for Health Products (CEPS) to take into account non-European countries with comparable market characteristicsIn an explanatory note during the PLFSS readings last year, Thibault Bazin, Member of the Republican Right group, pointed to the rapid rise in spending on medicines and medical devices since 2021, an average increase of 7.4% annually, compared to 3% GDP growth over the same period. As such, the amendment argues that looking at countries with lower prices but strong access to therapeutic innovation could help restore balance to France’s social security accounts
Last week, to kick off the new year, NAVLIN Daily published its 2025 trends round-up, offering an in-depth review of the policy, pricing and access developments that shaped the global pharmaceutical landscape over the past year. Check it out now! In the U.S., AbbVie and J&J announced the 15th & 16th voluntary MFN drug pricing agreements with the Trump administration Elsewhere, Brazil majorly restructured its drug pricing regulation and in France, pharmaceutical industry trade body Leem faced a crisis as around 30 major members exited the organization, including Sanofi, Ipsen, and Pierre Fabre. If you’re interested in the implications of these recent changes, you can register for our new Global Policy Watch newsletter here
Spain’s draft Royal Decree regulating the assessment of health technologies (HTAs) has entered its decisive stage after being sent to the Council of State under an urgent procedure, which limits its review period to 15 days, reports to DiariofarmaThese details were confirmed by Sonia García Pérez, advisory member of the General Directorate of the Common Portfolio of the National Health System and Pharmacy, during a conference organized by EUPATI Spain to mark the first year of application of the European HTA RegulationAccording to Diariofarma the version currently under consultation is not identical to the draft previously submitted for public comments, as it incorporates a series of technical and structural adjustments aimed at clarifying how the future national HTA system will function and how it will align with the European framework
AbbVie announced a voluntary Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing deal with the Trump administration, becoming the 16th drugmaker to enter such an agreementOther manufacturers who have struck MFN deals so far include Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, EMD Serono, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and Novo NordiskAbbVie’s deal appears similar to previous agreements and the company notes that its expanded DTP offerings will include Alphagan (brimonidine tartrate), Combigan (brimonidine/timolol), Humira (adalimumab), and Synthroid (levothyroxine). The company is also pledging $100 billion in U.S.-based research and development (R&D) and capital investments, including manufacturing, over the next decade
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