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Generic drugs in the U.S. face new economic pressures 40 years on

The generic drug industry in the U.S. has saved people billions and billions of dollars. But it faces new economic pressure today.
"Economists told me that now the prices of some drugs are almost too cheap," explained reporter and producer Leslie Walker.
John Moore/Getty Images

“Low Earth orbit is now open for business”

Nov 29, 2023
This is how Varda Space Industries hopes to commercialize manufacturing in space.
Will Bruey, CEO and co-founder of Varda Space Industries and Wendy Shimata, VP of Autonomous Systems observe Varda’s spacecraft as it orbits Earth.
Maria Hollenhorst/Marketplace

Why Nestle lost $2.1 billion on this peanut allergy cure

Mar 21, 2023
The Swiss grocery giant bought the maker of Palforzia as part of an effort to take Nestle into the profitable health and wellness space.
Nestle CEO Mark Schneider bought the maker of Palforzia, a peanut allergy cure, as part of a pivot toward the intersection of nutrition and pharmaceuticals.
Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images

Eli Lilly cuts list price, out-of-pocket costs for some of its insulins

Mar 2, 2023
The drug maker announced it's cutting the price of its most commonly-used insulins by 70%, and capping patients' out-of-pocket cost at $35 at certain participating pharmacies.
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly announced Wednesday that it would cap the price for some of its insulin at $35 at certain pharmacies.
NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP via Getty Images

Medicare may soon be able to negotiate prescription drug prices

Aug 8, 2022
The health policy reform is part of the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, which could aid 48 million Medicare recipients.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Inflation Reduction Act will save Medicare $288 billion over the next decade.
Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images

Medicare proposes limiting coverage of controversial Alzheimer's drug

Jan 13, 2022
Government insurer won't cover Aduhelm's $28,000-a-year price tag except for clinical trials.
A sign for biotechnology company, Biogen, Inc. is seen on a building in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
DOMINICK REUTER/AFP via Getty Images

Federal pharma ingredient stockpile is under construction in Virginia

Oct 19, 2021
The stockpile is a way to address shortages of some medicines. Some of the ingredients will be stored for emergency use.
Construction is underway in Petersburg, Virginia, on buildings to house a stockpile of pharmaceutical ingredients.
Nancy Marshall-Genzer

For public good, not for profit.

The antibiotics industry is in trouble. Operation Warp Speed may hold some solutions.

Jul 7, 2021
The antibiotics sector needs a revitalizing shot. The U.S. government's response to COVID may hold some answers.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Caution: Kodak's comeback may not be picture-perfect

Aug 7, 2020
The Trump administration has given Kodak hundreds of millions of dollars to produce chemicals for COVID-19 treatments. But the venerable photography company will have to compete with a global supply chain.
Point-and-shoot cameras, both digital and film, are attracting Gen Z's attention. David Little of the International Center of Photography in New York says this might point to boredom with perfection and an interest in the image-making process.
Chris Furlong/Getty Images

U.S. and EU vaccine deals raise fears of 'vaccine nationalism'

Jul 31, 2020
What does it mean for the rest of the world if countries have dibs on vaccine doses?
President Donald Trump tours a North Carolina lab making components for a potential vaccine. The U.S. has struck deals with drug companies for access to coronavirus vaccines in development.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images