Today, a brief rundown of news from Novo Nordisk and Insmed, as well as updates from the Department of Health and Human Services, Biogen and Vertex that you may have missed.
Novo Nordisk has undercut its top rival by launching a higher-dose version of its obesity drug Wegovy at a lower price. In a statement Tuesday, Novo said that “Wegovy HD” will cost $399 per month for patients paying cash. That price comes in $50 less than the $449 monthly cash-pay cost for the three highest doses of Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, a medicine that’s helped Lilly claim more than 60% of the U.S. market for obesity drugs. Novo has been looking to Wegovy HD as one way to bounce back. The therapy produced stronger weight loss results in testing than the original Wegovy and comparable to what was observed in testing of Zepbound. — Ben Fidler
Brensocatib, a drug Insmed sells as Brinsupri for a chronic lung condition, failed a mid-stage trial in the skin disease hidradenitis suppurativa. According to Insmed, a placebo outperformed both tested doses of brensocatib, leading the company to halt development in that indication. The study setback is the drug’s second in six months following a stumble against a kind of nasal disorder. Still, multiple analysts came to Insmed’s defense, calling the latest outcome “expected” given lingering uncertainty around the drug's potential against hidradenitis suppurativa and management's low expectations ahead of the readout. Company shares were little changed, too. Even if brensocatib doesn't secure additional approvals, Mizuho Securities analysts still expect the drug to generate nearly $9 billion in peak annual sales. — Ben Fidler
A charter document published Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services could upend the way panelists for a critical vaccine panel are selected. Historically, members of that committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or ACIP, had to have relevant expertise and underwent a rigorous vetting process before their appointment. However, the newly published rules grant HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. greater power to handpick from a much broader group of potential panelists. Last month, a federal judge blocked Kennedy’s directed changes to the childhood vaccine schedule and nullified decisions made by the ACIP panel he overhauled, stating that many new members “appear distinctly unqualified.” HHS hasn’t yet appealed the decision. — Delilah Alvarado
Biogen is collaborating with startup Alloy Therapeutics in a deal to use Alloy’s technology to develop oligonucleotide drugs against multiple undisclosed targets. Biogen sells the antisense oligonucleotide drugs Spinraza and Qalsody and is working on others, among them a Spinraza successor. Alloy says its platform is designed to address problems that limit the efficacy of these therapies. It’s receiving an unspecified upfront payment, and is eligible for additional payouts and sales royalties if programs emerging from the deal progress. — Delilah Alvarado
Vertex Pharmaceuticals will use a drug delivery technology from Halozyme on up to three unspecified targets, the companies said Tuesday. Halozyme’s technology makes it possible to deliver doses of a drug or a biologic through a smaller injection, enabling a therapy to be administered at home. Vertex will apply that approach “across our programs of interest,” Chief Scientific Officer Mark Bunnage said in a statement. Halozyme will receive $15 million upfront, and is eligible for undisclosed milestone payments and sales royalties as well. — Ben Fidler
