STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about an AstraZeneca setback, falling U.S. drug prices, and more

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope the weekend respite was relaxing and invigorating because that oh-too-familiar routine of meetings, deadlines, and the like has returned with a vengeance. You knew this would happen, yes? To cope, we are relying, as always, on a cup of stimulation. Our choice today is witch’s potion. Feel free to join us. Remember, no prescription is required. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits to help you along. Best of luck accomplishing your goals today, and of course, do keep in touch. …

AstraZeneca is discontinuing a late-stage trial that tested an experimental drug ‌called volrustomig plus chemotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, extending a run of setbacks that has deepened scrutiny of its development pipeline, Reuters explains. The decision followed a recommendation from an independent data monitoring committee, which found the combination was unlikely to meet either of its primary endpoints of progression-free survival or overall ​survival in patients whose tumors lacked the PD-L1 protein. Separately, the company reported positive ⁠readouts from two other late-stage lung cancer trials.

Prescription drug prices fell 0.8% in July and are down 3.1% from a year ago, which is the steepest annual decline in more than six decades, and prices have not risen in any month this year, Axios says, citing recent Consumer Price Index data. The White House is taking a victory lap for the drop, although the TrumpRx website likely only accounts for part of the decline. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk struck deals with the administration that cut cash prices for GLP-1 drugs and expanded Medicare access. Medicare negotiations established under the Inflation Reduction Act took effect in January for 10 of the program’s costliest drugs. And changes in what Medicare pays pharmacies can show up in the prescription drug CPI.

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