AstraZeneca Lung Cancer Trial Setback, Falling U.S. Drug Prices
AstraZeneca discontinues a late-stage trial for its experimental drug volrustomig, while prescription drug prices in the U.S. experience a significant decline.
A late-stage trial testing an experimental drug from AstraZeneca in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer has been discontinued. The decision was made following a recommendation from an independent data monitoring committee, which found that the combination of volrustomig and chemotherapy was unlikely to meet its primary endpoints of progression-free survival or overall survival in patients whose tumors lacked the PD-L1 protein.
The discontinuation of this trial is the latest setback for AstraZeneca's development pipeline. The company has reported positive readouts from two other late-stage lung cancer trials, but the outcome of this particular trial has raised concerns about the efficacy of volrustomig.
In other news, prescription drug prices in the U.S. have experienced a significant decline. According to recent Consumer Price Index data, prices fell 0.8% in July and are down 3.1% from a year ago. This is the steepest annual decline in more than six decades, and prices have not risen in any month this year.
The White House is taking credit for the drop in prescription drug prices, although the TrumpRx website likely only accounts for part of the decline. The administration has struck deals with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk that cut cash prices for GLP-1 drugs and expanded Medicare access. Additionally, Medicare negotiations established under the Inflation Reduction Act took effect in January for 10 of the program's costliest drugs. Changes in what Medicare pays pharmacies can also show up in the prescription drug CPI.
## AstraZeneca's Development Pipeline Under Scrutiny
The discontinuation of the volrustomig trial has raised concerns about AstraZeneca's development pipeline. The company has faced a series of setbacks in recent years, and the outcome of this trial has added to the scrutiny.
## Falling Prescription Drug Prices in the U.S.
The decline in prescription drug prices is a significant development in the U.S. healthcare landscape. The White House is taking credit for the drop, although the full extent of the administration's impact is unclear.
## Impact of Medicare Negotiations
The Medicare negotiations established under the Inflation Reduction Act have taken effect, and are expected to have a significant impact on prescription drug prices. The negotiations cover 10 of the program's costliest drugs, and changes in what Medicare pays pharmacies can also show up in the prescription drug CPI.
## Prescription Drug Price Decline
| Month | Price Change | | --- | --- | | July | -0.8% | | Year-over-Year | -3.1% |
The decline in prescription drug prices is a significant development in the U.S. healthcare landscape. The White House is taking credit for the drop, although the full extent of the administration's impact is unclear.
