STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Vertex pain pill, an abortion pill hearing, and more

Top of the morning to you. And a fine one it is. Despite gray skies, the temperature is gradually rising and a large family of deer is parading alongside the Pharmalot campus, which our official mascots find quite provocative. As for us, we are as busy as ever hunting and gathering items of interest. We trust you have your own busy agendas. So join us as we hoist the ever-present cup of stimulation — our choice today is cinnamon sticky bun — and attack the fast-growing to-do list. We hope you have a smashing day and, of course, do stay in touch. Our settings are adjusted to accept postcards and telegrams. …

Pharmaceutical companies are due to receive by Thursday the U.S. government’s opening proposal for what are expected to be significant discounts on 10 high-cost medicines, an important step in the Medicare health program’s first-ever price negotiations, Reuters writes. Five Wall Street analysts and two investors told Reuters they expect the negotiations over prices that will go into effect in 2026 to result in cuts ranging from the statutory minimum of 25% to as much as 60% when the final numbers are set in September. The drugmakers and the government are expected to wait until then to disclose them.

Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy — already game changers for diabetes and obesity — are being studied to treat an entirely different growing health problem: mental illnesses, including depression and bipolar disorder, STAT tells us. Early data and anecdotes suggest that this class of GLP-1 drugs could help patients feel less depressed and anxious. The treatment may also fight the decline in cognitive and executive function that many people with mental health disorders experience, like worsening memory and losing the ability to focus and plan. If further research yields positive results, it could drive even more demand for the highly popular GLP-1 treatments.

Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…