May 8, 2017 - Health

PhRMA might boot members that jack up drug prices

Gilles Mingasson / AP Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation

PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry's primary lobbying group, is expected to institute new membership rules designed to force out smaller companies that don't invest in drug research, per Bloomberg.

The new rules: In order to remain a part of PhRMA, drug companies will have to spend at least $200 million per year on research over a three-year average. They'll also have to spend at least 10% of their annual global sales on research.

Why it matters: This is PhRMA's way of trying to get rid of smaller companies that mostly buy older drugs and jack up the prices. You might remember the controversy surrounding Marathon Pharmaceutical's choice earlier this year to charge $89,000 for a muscular dystrophy drug that cost less than $2,000 abroad.

Go deeper

Ursula Perano

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court expands religious freedoms in schools, employment

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The Supreme Court ended its term with a series of rulings on religion's role in schools, the workplace and access to health care.

Why it matters: The decisions elevated protections for people and employers of faith, while curtailing those of religion teachers, the nonreligious taxpayer and women who rely on their workplaces' health care plans for contraception.

Go deeper (1 min. read)

Axios

Updated 3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. ET: 12,573,041 — Total deaths: 561,865 — Total recoveries — 6,915,740 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. ET: 3,213,902 — Total deaths: 134,420 — Total recoveries: 983,185 — Total tested: 38,919,421 — Map.
Public health: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: "Please wear a mask to save lives" — Fauci hasn't briefed Trump on the coronavirus pandemic in at least two months — We're losing the war on the coronavirus.
Food: How the coronavirus pandemic boosted alternative meat.
Sports: Charge of "money grab" by college football.
World: India reimposes lockdowns as coronavirus cases soar.
🎧 Podcast: Rural America has its own coronavirus problem.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)

Mike Allen

4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Don Jr. plans convention-week Biden book

Cover via Don Jr.

Donald Trump Jr., in quarantine since girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle tested positive for the coronavirus, says he's used the time to finish a book that he'll self-publish the week of the Republican convention, at the end of August.

What he's saying: Don Jr., whose controversial blasts connect with President Trump's base, told me in a phone interview that "Liberal Privilege" will be his effort to paint a picture of Joe Biden and his record that the press ignores.