Good Day BIO: Drug pricing deal, vaccines for kids, and climate-smart ag

It’s a busy Wednesday with news of a drug pricing deal and authorization of COVID vaccines for kids aged 5-11. We have details, plus BIO’s calls for climate-smart agriculture during COP26. (815 words, 4 minutes, 4 seconds)

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What we know about House Democrats’ drug pricing deal

House Democrats agreed yesterday to add a measure allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices with manufacturers as part of President Biden’s tax and spending package—so if you haven’t contacted your Member of Congress yet, now’s the time.

What we know so far: While details about the deal are still not clear, it appears the proposal would give Medicare power to negotiate prices on the 10 most expensive drugs in 2023, and open negotiation on other drug prices later, The Washington Post reports. 

"It's impossible to go into great detail as we are still learning what exactly is in the bill, but our policy experts will analyze it in depth over the coming days to determine the impact on companies," said Rich Masters, BIO's Chief Public Affairs and Advocacy Officer. "As always, we are focused on solutions that increase patient access to lifesaving medicines and treatments, reduce the amount patients pay out of pocket, and foster the next generation of biomedical innovation."

As a reminder: price controls will hurt patients, full stop—here’s why. 

Now’s the time to weigh in. Visit www.SaveCures.com to contact your Members of Congress to tell them why drug price controls will harm patients and future cures.

CDC recommends COVID vaccines for children 5-11 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday officially recommended that children aged 5-11 be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine—here’s the scoop. 

Distribution of pediatric doses of the vaccine began this week, and a full campaign to vaccinate the 28 million children in this age group starts next week.

“COVID-19 cases in children can result in hospitalizations, deaths, MIS-C (inflammatory syndromes) and long-term complications,”the CDC said. The Delta variant led to a five-fold increase in hospitalizations of children and adolescents during a six-week period in late June to mid-August. 

The recommendation follows trials showing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was nearly 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children aged 5-11, a rate similar to that found for adults. The CDC said side effects were mild, “similar to those seen in adults and with other vaccines recommended for children. The most common side effect was a sore arm.” 

“As a mom, I encourage parents with questions to talk to their pediatrician, school nurse or local pharmacist to learn more about the vaccine and the importance of getting their children vaccinated,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, whose endorsement of the decision of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) made this recommendation official. 

Get answers to your COVID vaccine questions at covidvaccinefacts.org.

More Health Care News: 

Reuters: Novavax COVID-19 vaccine gets first authorization; expects more within weeks, CEO says
“Novavax expects regulators in India, the Philippines and elsewhere to make a decision on its COVID-19 vaccine within ‘weeks,’ its chief executive told Reuters, after the shot on Monday received its first emergency use authorization (EUA) from Indonesia.”

During COP26, BIO calls for climate-smart agriculture

BIO amplified the importance of climate-smart agriculture this week, submitting comments on the USDA’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership (CSAF) and joining the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM), which launched yesterday.

USDA’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership (CSAF) seeks to incentivize use of technology and new practices. It was created earlier this year in response to President Biden’s Executive Order to address climate change.

“To meet the challenge of climate change, it is crucial to lead with science and U.S. innovation,”said BIO in comments to USDA. “We must incentivize the adoption of innovative, sustainable technologies and practices; and streamline and expedite regulatory pathways for breakthrough technology solutions.”

Equity is important. BIO urges inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in USDA’s practices and programs. 

Inclusivity also means opening up voluntary carbon markets, which would benefit smaller farmers and forest owners and the planet. BIO is a member of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance, which champions carbon market expansion (and which also submitted comments to USDA on CSAF). 

BIO also joined the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM), a voluntary effort launched by the United States and the United Arab Emirates with 31 countries at COP26. BIO is one of nearly 50 non-governmental Knowledge Partners.

AIM seeks global cooperation to empower “agriculture to be part of the solution to address the climate crisis, build resilience to its impacts, and create co-benefits of climate action.” Participants agree to work toward increasing “investment in, and/or other support for, climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation over the next five years (2021 – 2025).”

President Biden’s Wednesday: Returning home from the UN Climate Summit early this morning and receiving his daily briefing in the afternoon. The White House COVID-19 Response Team will hold a press briefing at 1:45 p.m. ET.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Negotiations on the reconciliation package on Biden’s tax-and-spending plan will continue. Democrats are expected to take up immigration proposals. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold an oversight hearing on programs of the Economic Development Administration, and House Agriculture will hold a hearing on the food supply chain.