Colorado PDAB could limit patient access to medicines

We take a deep dive into what’s happening with Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) and explain why the early cherry blossoms are nothing to cheer (and what biotech could do about it). (501 words, 2 minutes, 30 seconds)

Colorado PDAB could limit patient access to medicines

As Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) moves to control the price of drugs, patients’ costs are not reduced, but their access to medicines is at risk, Bio.News reports.

What’s happening: Colorado’s PDAB is reviewing certain drugs to decide whether the state will impose an upper payment limit (UPL)— (a.k.a. price cap) for drugs provided in markets regulated by the state.

PDABs, in a nutshell: State boards that aim to cap, control, and dictate the price of drugs that manufacturers can charge.

Everyone’s watching: “Colorado’s PDAB model is one that a lot of states are looking at,” says Patrick Plues, BIO’s VP of State Government Affairs. While Maryland was the first state to pass a PDAB, the “Maryland PDAB’s oversight applied only to state and local purchasers. But comparatively, Colorado was the first state to pass a PDAB that applied to the commercial market as well.”

The bottom line: Colorado’s PDAB “must tread carefully to ensure Colorado does not harm patients in its quest to be the first in the nation to implement this experimental program,” says a letter from the Colorado Bioscience Association.

Read more on Bio.News.

Why it’s worrying that spring’s coming early

The capital’s near-record early cherry blossom season is yet another concerning indication of spring arriving ahead of schedule. Biotech can help us mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Why it matters: Data and readers’ observations show spring is arriving sooner throughout most of the United States, The Washington Post reports. The changes pose challenges to our ability to feed ourselves.

A long-term trend: With successive years setting temperature records and farmers struggling with extreme weather, climate change’s impact on plants has long been clear. Last month’s Global Agricultural Productivity report reiterated that it’s getting harder to feed the world.

Biotech is increasing nutrition output with innovations like drought-tolerant corn, pest-resistant cowpea, and rice high in vitamin A, explained a recent BIO report.

Biotech is also helping to mitigate climate change with sustainable aviation fuel and bio-ethanol innovations that turn waste carbon into fuel.

Americans want more government support for biotech climate solutions, a poll shows. The government has launched initiatives to promote SAFs and biomanufacturing, but more can be done, including passing the five-year Farm Bill supporting climate-smart agriculture.

President Biden’s Wednesday: Finishing campaigning in Arizona before heading to Texas for more campaign events.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: House Appropriations Committee and House Ways and Means Committee hearings with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra will examine the 2025 HHS fiscal year budget. Congress is working to meet this week’s deadline for spending legislation, per the Washington Post.