As physicians lose decision-making authority to payers, argues Roger Longman of Real Endpoints, drug companies need to segment markets more effectively: the patient populations prescribers are most likely to treat and that will spark the fewest access battles; and the specific payer lines-of-business least inclined to block new drugs' use.

Rather than try to “win” the drug pricing debate, the biopharma sector may be better served by coming up with new ideas to change the subject. We outlined our case for taking this approach – and the model for ideas that serve that goal – here. Now we offer the first proposal: a national center for off-patent pharmaceutical production.

The FDA has confirmed the picks to head most of the new offices in the restructured drug review organization, with one notable exception. The choice for the Office of Rare Diseases, Pediatrics, Urologic and Reproductive Medicine is still pending, while one candidate ­– Hylton Joffe – will be serving as acting OND deputy director.