How Manufacturers Can Prepare for Impending Changes in PBM Incentives
This article was originally published in Pharmaceutical Executive on April 6, 2026. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) sit at the center of an increasingly complex web of relationships among manufacturers, health insurers, pharmacies and employers. While they streamline negotiations between employers and pharmaceutical companies, increase price competition and standardize claims, formulary and utilization practices, they’ve recently […]
You Only Launch Once: Five Ways to Reduce Market Access Risk
For many manufacturers, the period between FDA submission and the PDUFA date feels deceptively quiet. Clinical work is largely complete, pricing assumptions have already been modeled, and commercial teams are waiting for the green light. But in reality, this pre-launch window is one of the most consequential phases of a brand’s lifecycle—and one of the […]
From Compliance to Strategy: How Payers Are Refining Their IRA Playbooks
When the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) first passed in late 2022, payers rushed to respond. On paper, the bill’s intentions were clear: this legislation sought to lower drug costs, reduce patients’ out‑of‑pocket burden, and empower Medicare to negotiate prices for the first time. In practice, however, the ripple effects have been far more complex for […]
Portfolio Contracting: The Power Move Reshaping Pharma Access
Portfolio contracting is quietly rewriting the rules of pharmaceutical market access. What began as a way to bundle a handful of related products has evolved into a defining access strategy that influences pricing, formulary positioning and competitive dynamics across therapeutic areas (TAs). Today, market success depends less on a single blockbuster drug than on how […]
Market Access in 2026: Predictions on DTC Programs, Biosimilars and GLP-1s
To better understand what 2026 might bring, we asked three MMIT market access experts to share their perspectives on upcoming market shifts. Read on for key insights into the year ahead (and don’t miss the first post in this two-part series.) 1. Patients are increasingly gravitating to direct-to-consumer platforms. What effects do you think these […]
Market Access in 2026: Predictions on Policies, Contracting and AI
To better understand what 2026 might bring, we asked three MMIT market access experts to share their perspectives on upcoming market shifts. Read the first of this two-part series for key insights into the year ahead. 1. What’s the biggest challenge for manufacturers launching new products this year? Steve Callahan, Senior Director, Advisory & Insights: […]
Starting with the End in Mind: How Pharma Can Build a Smarter Path to Commercialization
This article was originally published in Drug Channels. To chart a clear path to commercialization, a manufacturer must begin with the end in mind. Early market research helps pharma companies understand which clinical endpoints and differentiators an asset will need to succeed at launch. Today, one-third of pharma companies start market access planning in Phase I, and […]
Selling the Script: The Introduction of Private Equity in Retail Pharmacy
Over the past decade, health systems have seen a rapid influx of private equity, with a six-fold increase in acquisitions totaling $10 trillion. As private equity firms continue to explore new methods of investment in health care, the recent announcement that Walgreens Boots Alliance will be acquired by Sycamore Partners seems to be a natural […]
Asembia Trends: IRA Operationalization and the Future of Specialty Therapies
At the end of April, more than 8,000 attendees visited Las Vegas for the Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit, otherwise known as AXS25. If you missed the conference, here’s an overview of some of the key areas covered this year: Keeping an Eye on Government Policies AXS25 featured quite a few presentations on the impact of the […]
What to Watch in Second Round of Medicare Drug Price Negotiations
Established by the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022, the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program is still in its infancy, but is expected to impact a wide swath of stakeholders in the U.S. healthcare system. Last year, CMS negotiated prices for the first round of drugs, and in January, the agency revealed its second list […]