Pharma Pulse: The GLP-1 Copycat Crackdown and the 340B Rebate Retreat

Welcome to Pharma Pulse, a Pharmaceutical Commerce podcast where we bring you the latest insights shaping patient access, supply chain/logistics, data & tech, and healthcare innovation. I’m your host, and let’s get into today’s headlines.

• Just 48 hours after launching a $49 compounded semaglutide pill, telehealth giant Hims & Hers has pulled the product from its platform. The reversal follows a warning from FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who threatened enforcement against illegal copycat drugs that lack verified safety data. Facing additional legal fire from Novo Nordisk, Hims & Hers cited constructive industry conversations as they pivot away from mass-compounded oral weight-loss alternatives.
• Meanwhile, safety-net hospitals are breathing a sigh of relief. HHS has officially dropped its pilot program to swap 340B upfront discounts for a rebate-based model. Following a federal court loss in Maine, the department admitted further litigation wouldn't be "fruitful." Hospitals argued the move would have forced them to float millions in drug costs upfront, threatening the financial stability of clinics serving the most vulnerable communities.

That’s it for this episode of Pharma Pulse. For more insights on trends transforming pharmaceutical access and care delivery, visit pharmaceuticalcommerce.com.

Thanks for listening—until next time, stay well and stay informed.

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