STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a GSK shingles shot, U.S. employers dropping GLP-1 coverage, and more

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the middle of the week. Congratulations on making it this far, and remember there are only a few more days until the weekend arrives. So keep plugging away. After all, what are the alternatives? While you ponder the possibilities, we invite you to join us for a needed cup of stimulation. Our choice today is ginseng honey, a favorite from our pantry. Meanwhile, here is the latest menu of tidbits to help you on your way. We hope you conquer the world and have a wonderful day. And as always, please do stay in touch. …

About 14% of employers in the U.S. have already or plan to drop coverage of GLP-1 drugs in 2027, as companies see ​rising health care costs, Reuters notes, citing a survey by the Business Group ‌on Health.  Two-thirds of employers reported rising use of ​the medicines while the share of employers ​covering GLP-1 weight loss ⁠drugs dropped from 72% in 2025 to 60% in 2026. Pharmacy costs made up 25% of employer health care spending and are expected to rise by 12% in 2027, unchanged from the ​year prior. PepsiCo, for example, is dropping coverage, says Bloomberg News.

The number of people working in Massachusetts’ renowned biotech sector fell last year, the first time that’s happened since at least 2002, The Boston Globe writes. The state’s biopharma workforce shrank by about 3,600 employees in 2025, to a total of 113,503, as industry headwinds and uncertainty about federal funding for scientific research battered the sector, according to the annual “industry snapshot” by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council trade group. Compared to 2024, the workforce declined by 3.1%.

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