In this week’s Pharma Pulse, Lilly brings Zepbound and Foundayo to Hims & Hers, Swisslog Healthcare expands its Tenutō cold storage line, and FDA adds a NAION warning across the GLP-1 class.
Commentary|Podcasts|December 2, 2025
Pharma Pulse: US-UK Trade Deal Forces Pricing Shift, as Lilly Deepens GLP-1 Price Cuts and RSV-Asthma Link Confirmed
Author(s)Nicholas Saraceno, Senior Editor
In today’s Pharma Pulse, a US-UK trade agreement mandates that the UK’s NICE agency raises its QALY threshold, increasing access to innovative drugs and much more.
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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.
- In policy news, the United States and the United Kingdom have reached a deal in principle to establish
0% tariffs on pharmaceuticals and medical technology for three years. In exchange for the tariff relief, the UK has agreed to increase the amount it pays for certain innovative medicines by 25%. - Meanwhile, the GLP-1 race is heating up on the home front. Eli Lilly announced a
new price reduction for its single-dose Zepbound vials, specifically targeting self-pay patients using its LillyDirect platform. The starting dose is now $299 per month, a cut from $349. - Lastly, a crucial public health update, as new data confirms a
strong link between severe RSV infection in early infancy and a significantly higher risk of developing childhood asthma later in life. This finding underscores the importance of existing and new RSV prevention strategies, including maternal vaccination and monoclonal antibodies as a long-term defense against chronic respiratory illness.
That’s it for this episode of Pharma Pulse. For more insights on trends transforming pharmaceutical access and care delivery, visit
Thanks for listening—until next time, stay well and stay informed.
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