Good Day BIO: WHO declares monkeypox a 'health emergency'

Over the weekend, WHO declared monkeypox a health emergency of international concern—we tell you what that means and what’s happening in the U.S. Plus, recent CBO analysis of proposed drug price controls misinforms—and misses the mark, say BIO’s health policy experts. (682 words, 3 minutes, 24 seconds)

WHO declares monkeypox a global ‘health emergency’

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)—so, what does that mean, and what’s next?

The situation: There have been more than “16,000 reported cases from 75 countries and territories, and five deaths,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday, announcing his decision that the outbreak “represents a public health emergency of international concern.”

Why it matters: “[W]e have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly, through new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little, and which meets the criteria in the International Health Regulations,” he said.

The good news: We have effective vaccines and therapeutics, which are already being distributed around the world—thanks in large part to biotech partnerships with the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and previous investment in medical preparedness. The declaration will also help to unleash more financial resources and increase the global collaboration of nations under the international health regulations (IHR).

However: COVID-19 “forced governments around the world to revamp their pandemic response programs, invest in drugs and vaccines and establish viral surveillance systems. Now monkeypox is putting those upgrades to the test—and they’re falling short,” reports Bloomberg.

What’s next for the U.S.? The federal government might invoke a public health emergency, but it “depends on what does that allow us to do,” said White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha on Face the Nation yesterday. “Right now, we have over 2000 cases, but we have ramped up vaccinations, ramped up treatments, ramped up testing, and we're going to continue to look at all sort of policy options. Right now, we think we can get our arms around this thing, but obviously, if we need further tools, we will invoke them as we need them.” 

More Reading:

• Yes, we have a monkeypox vaccine—thanks to investment in medical preparedness
• We have monkeypox treatments—but must act fast

CBO drug pricing analysis misinforms – and misses the mark

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently corrected its estimate on the impact of drug pricing legislation on innovation. The problem? CBO provides no detail or explanation—and incorrect analyses grossly misinform and ultimately lead to bad public policies, BIO’s health policy experts tell us. 

What happened: In July, CBO released estimates on innovation impacts related to the 2022 drug pricing legislation. In the original estimates, CBO suggested 10 fewer drugs would be introduced in total over the next 30 years because of the legislation. However, a corrected statement estimated 15 fewer drugs would be introduced.

That’s a 50% increase over previous estimates—but CBO provides no detail as to why they missed the mark by this much and continues to make broad-brush conclusions on the effects drug pricing legislation will have on innovation.

Meanwhile: A recently published report from the University of Chicago shows drug price controls would decrease spending on cancer drug R&D by almost 10 times the spending increase anticipated under President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot—read the full story.

President Biden’s Monday: While recovering from COVID with “mild” symptoms, he’ll deliver virtual remarks to the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Conference. White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha will join a press briefing at 3:10 PM ET.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Get ready for a busy week before the August recess.