Walgreen Co.

In the 10th round of national centralized drug procurement, the extremely low price of enteric-coated aspirin tablets has garnered widespread attention. Specifically, the price was as low as RMB 0.03 per tablet. The market has raised concerns, fearing that overemphasis on low prices might harm corporate interests and potentially impact drug quality. Some media outlets have even questioned: "Would you dare to take such low-priced medicine?" However, most of these worries may be unnecessary. Firstly, the production cost of aspirin is relatively low due to its simple synthesis process and cheap raw materials. In the U.S. market, the price of aspirin is also calculated in cents. For example, at Walgreens, standard aspirin tablets cost $0.01 per tablet, while enteric-coated tablets cost $0.03. Even Bayer's original drug costs just $0.09 per tablet. Therefore, the price in China is actually within a normal range. Secondly, while centralized procurement has led to significant price reductions, the process is not about indiscriminate price suppression. It aims to adjust the profits of generic drugs to a reasonable range. For example, dapagliflozin experienced a significant price drop due to "negotiation tactics" but still achieved an annual domestic sales volume of RMB 7 billion. Globally, price adjustments for generics are common; China's adjustments are merely returning to a more rational market logic. To address concerns about the efficacy of generics, regulators have implemented consistency evaluations to enhance quality control. Under normal circumstances, drug quality remains reliable, and the public should not be overly worried. However, regulatory bodies must continue ensuring the long-term stability of drugs procured through centralized purchasing. Regulatory oversight and constructive criticism play a positive role in industry development. Nevertheless, unfounded negative publicity could harm the pharmaceutical sector.

Over the summer, we speculated that the cold war between drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk and the many businesses profiting from copycat versions of their obesity medications would come to a head at some point, particularly as supply shortages resolved. Our prediction: Fed up with the competition from GLP-1 compounders, the drugmakers would either fight big telehealth sites and pharmacies in court — or they could lean into the booming direct-to-consumer market for the drugs and partner with one of its dominant players as a new distribution channel. Yesterday, Lilly took route #2, striking up a partnership with Ro to give more patients access to its discounted, cash-pay Zepbound vials. It’s a smart move. Lilly already offers these vials through its own DTC service LillyDirect. But sidling up to a one-time competitor — Ro recently stopped selling a compounded version of tirzepatide, the main ingredient in Zepbound — gives Lilly the potential to sell more of its brand drug without the added legwork. Ro’s a big and growing company that advertises heavily and has treated hundreds of thousands of weight loss patients. Its CEO Zachariah Reitano told me 55% of Ro patients don’t have insurance for GLP-1s, so the vials, while still not cheap at a starting price of $399 a month, could be a good option for them. He declined to share exactly how many Ro patients are using brand-name Zepbound now, but said it’s “quite a significant number.” It’s also notable who’s not working with Lilly. Hims continues to avoid brand-name obesity drugs in favor of compounded versions. It’s hard to know if that’s a winning strategy. Presumably, obesity drugs will come off shortage (possibly soon!), hurting mass compounding. And Michael Cherny, an analyst at Leerink Partners, wrote Wednesday that Ro being the first to work with Lilly could box out Hims from doing a similar deal. Hims’ stock price slipped on the Ro-Lilly news. A final thought: Where’s Novo in this conversation? The Wegovy maker seems perfectly content to stay out of DTC. More and more, that feels like a mistake. — Shelby (This is an edition of the Endpoints News Health Tech newsletter. Subscribe here to get it directly in your inbox.) HERE’S WHAT’S NEW Healthcare veteran Glen Tullman thinks AI implementation will define health tech in 2025 While there’s already plenty of AI in healthcare that focuses on administrative tasks on the back end, it’s time for AI in health consumer-facing products to shine in the year ahead, Tullman told Endpoints News in an interview. Eli Lilly has tapped telehealth startup Ro to distribute its single-dose Zepbound vials Through a new relationship with Eli Lilly, Ro patients can now get easier access to the drugmaker’s discounted, single-dose vials of blockbuster obesity drug Zepbound. Walgreens in talks to sell to private equity — report Walgreens is reportedly in discussions to sell itself to a private equity firm as the retail pharmacy giant grapples with store closures and slumping shares. Pleno raises $25M for multiomics testing, names new CEO Pleno raised an additional $25 million in private funding to advance its tests that detect biological targets for drug research and diagnostics. THIS WEEK IN HEALTH TECH

The health tech company is honored to receive an award for its solution to make affordable medications accessible to everyoneESTERO, Fla., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Visory Health, a patient-first health tech prescription platform that is transforming the way Veterans, families and caregivers access affordable healthcare through its prescription discount card, announces today that it has been named to Fast Company's fourth annual 2024 Brands That Matter list earning recognition in the On the Rise category. The list recognizes companies and organizations disrupting industries to positively impact society. Visory Health was selected for its prescription discount card, developed for those often underserved: families, caregivers, Veterans, and their families, to ensure no one should have to choose between affording groceries or prescriptions. The company’s innovative business model and independence from PBMs exemplify a groundbreaking approach, highlighting the transformation Visory is working to build. "We're on a mission to democratize access to affordable medication. We understand that healthcare costs can be overwhelming for many people, and we're committed to providing solutions that make healthcare more accessible and affordable for everyone,” said Visory Health CEO and Founder Susan Lang. The average cost of family health insurance through an employer has seen a significant increase of 7%, costing over $25,000 in premiums per year – a new decade high with many struggling to afford their medications. To see how this increase affects people, Visory Health conducted a survey, which found that 48% of respondents over 55 had been forced to choose between prescriptions and essential bills. 45% of those aged 35 - 54 also faced similar decisions. Springing into action, Visory Health has taken to community events to educate the public on affordable alternatives to save on prescriptions. "At Visory Health, we believe your health is a fundamental right, not a privilege. We're determined to disrupt the status quo and ensure everyone can access affordable and oftentimes critical medication,” said Visory Health SVP, Growth Alexandra Robertson. “We're fighting for the health and well-being of all individuals.” Since its launch two and a half years ago, Visory Health has become one of the leading prescription discount cards and is available at over 36,000 pharmacy partners nationwide including Walgreens, Kroger, Publix, Stop & Shop, and more. Visory Health is free and easy to use. Visit www.visoryhealth.com or download the mobile app on Google Play or the App Store to get started. About Visory Health Visory Health is a patient-first health tech platform transforming how everyone, including Veterans, families, caregivers and underserved individuals, can access healthcare. Visory Health’s model puts customer’s needs at the core of how it operates. They have saved millions of customers money on prescription medications, creating healthier families and communities. With a network of over 36,000 pharmacy partners nationwide including Walgreens, Kroger, Publix, Stop & Shop, and more, Visory Health delivers affordable prescription prices nationwide and is free to use. To learn more, visit www.visoryhealth.com. Media ContactElsa AnschuetzUproar PR for Visory Healtheanschuetz@uproarpr.com321-236-0102