Pharma Pulse 5/13/25: White House Unveils Pharma Most-Favored-Nation Executive Order; FDA, CDC Call for Pause of Chikungunya Shot Rollout in Older Adults

White House Unveils Pharma Most-Favored-Nation Executive Order

Pharmaceutical Executive reported that President Trump issued an executive order titled Delivering Most-Favored-Nation Prescription Drug Pricing to American Patients, aiming to lower US drug prices by requiring pharmaceutical companies to match or beat prices offered in other developed countries, with potential penalties including tariffs and FDA action.

FDA, CDC call for pause of chikungunya shot rollout in older adults

The FDA and CDC have recommended pausing the use of Valneva’s chikungunya vaccine, Ixchiq, in adults over 60 years of age because of ongoing investigations into serious adverse events, The move follows similar actions by European health authorities.

AI is already delivering pharma value — and not just in drug discovery

AI is already delivering value in pharma beyond drug discovery, with significant advances in clinical trials, diagnostics, and data management, though challenges remain in fully integrating AI into drug development, according to Jessica Owens of Initiate Ventures.

Public Perception of Clinical Research Amidst Policy Changes

In an interview with Applied Clinical Trials, Krinx Kong, chief commercial officer, Cognivia, discussed how potential policy shifts in vaccine trials could affect public perception and trust, emphasizing the importance of behavioral insights to enhance communication, recruitment, and retention amidst stricter regulations.

Lexeo laid off 15% of staff in April to focus on lead cardiac gene therapies

Lexeo Therapeutics laid off 15% of its staff in April to reallocate $20 million from its pipeline to focus on its lead cardiac gene therapy programs, LX2006 and LX2020, while sidelining its Alzheimer disease gene therapy candidates.