Drugmakers and PBMs still don't have to publish net prices

Under a rule proposed by the Trump administration, pharma companies and pharmacy benefit managers will still not have to post the actual prices paid for prescription drugs, more than five years after federal law required them to do so.

The Affordable Care Act and other federal laws have required widespread transparency of prices for the health care industry. But companies have not had to disclose net prices (the amounts that insurers pay to drugmakers after rebates) since the government has repeatedly deferred the requirement.

The administration's proposal said officials are still evaluating how to implement a disclosure requirement in future rulemaking.

obesity

FDA approves pill version of Wegovy

The FDA yesterday approved the oral version of Novo Nordisk's injectable weight loss drug Wegovy — both as a treatment for obesity and to reduce cardiovascular risks, similar to the injectable version.

Novo plans to launch the drug in January. In a late-stage study, the highest dose that will be sold, 25 milligrams, led patients to lose about 14% of their weight, similar to the efficacy seen with injectable Wegovy.

Among the questions now are those about pricing. Novo already made a deal with the Trump administration to sell the pill at $150 a month for the lowest dose through direct-to-consumer channels, but it's not yet clear what the company will ultimately charge for higher doses of the pills or what it will charge payers.

politics

Trump proposes Medicare pilots as part of MFN policy

The Trump administration has also proposed two Medicare pilot programs intended to reduce prices for branded drugs to levels on par with peer countries.

In the models, which are mandatory, CMS would require drugmakers to provide rebates equal to the difference between prices in the U.S. and an international benchmark based on what 19 comparable countries pay.

This proposal comes as 14 drug companies have already made voluntary agreements with President Trump to alter drug prices in line with what other countries pay. Those deals, however, are voluntary, and their specific terms have not been disclosed.

The pharmaceutical sector has been more wary of long-lasting policy changes, and so there could be legal challenges to the new proposed models.

Read more from STAT's John Wilkerson and Daniel Payne.

biotech

The best drug names of 2025

As if STAT and other news outlets haven't bombarded you with enough end-of-year lists, I've decided to start a new tradition: compiling the best and worst new drug names of the year.

I picked some nominees from the list of novel drugs approved this year and asked my colleagues to vote. It was admittedly much more difficult to find good drug names than bad ones, but we managed to identify some standouts.

Needless to say, these things are, ahem, subjective, and shouldn't be read as making light of the therapies or the conditions they are meant to treat.

Third place: Forzinity

Forzinity, made by Stealth BioTherapeutics, is designed to improve muscle strength in patients with a rare disease called Barth syndrome, which leads to muscle weakness and heart failure. Stealth endured a turbulent and controversial process to convince the FDA to grant accelerated approval, so the drug's name seems apt in regards not only to its intended treatment effect, but also to the company's fortitude in getting it onto the market.

Also, it's fun to pronounce. "Forzinity rolls right off the tongue," one colleague said. "Up there with Skyrizi for drugs I want to take based on the coolness of their names alone."

Second place: Rhapsido

Rhapsido, made by Novartis, treats chronic spontaneous urticaria, or chronic hives. As a pill, it could be much more attractive to patients than the currently approved shots.

It's pretty clear why my colleagues voted for this. "I want to rhapsodize about my cure," one of them said. The name evokes such enthusiasm that another colleague said he's "surprised FDA allowed it."

First place: Vizz

Vizz is an eye drop for presbyopia, the age-related loss of the eye's ability to focus on close objects. The rare single-syllable-named drug is made by Lenz Therapeutics.

"At first Vizz struck me as a little harsh-sounding," one voter said, "but when I realized what the drug was for, I was like — well, it's simple, easy to remember, relates to the condition it's treating. Gotta give it to them."

biotech

The worst drug names of 2025

There were unfortunately so many bad names that when presented with the list of nominees, one colleague said, "this is nuts."

Third place: Tryptyr

Tryptyr, made by Alcon, is an eye drop used to treat dry eye disease. Whether intentional or not, I do want to cry when trying to read the name.

Second place: Qfitlia

Qfitlia, made by Sanofi, is approved to prevent or reduce bleeding episodes in people with hemophilia A or B.

Similar to Tryptyr, the name has quite a few consonants and not what one might consider a deficit of vowels.

First place: Avmapki Fakzynja Co-Pack

But speaking of an abundance of consonants, no other name this year tops Avmapki Fakzynja Co-Pack, a combination therapy for ovarian cancer made by Verastem Oncology.

"It's not one but two unpronounceable names," one colleague said. "Someone just mashed the keyboard on that one," said another one.

One brave colleague, however, defended the name. "I want to reward boldness. I also am not entirely sure it's not the name of a traditional holiday in a language I do not know, or the name of a hero."

Happy holidays to one and all.

More around STAT