Zach Brennan

Zach Brennan

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Sr. Editor, Endpoints; FDA/Capitol Hill/biopharma

Cash‑pay Market for $950 Humira Doubtful vs Cheap Biosimilars
SocialApr 7, 2026

Cash‑pay Market for $950 Humira Doubtful vs Cheap Biosimilars

Is there really a cash-pay market for a $950/month brand-name Humira? (...especially w/two adalimumab biosimilars priced at less than $300/mo. already on TrumpRx, and many insured folks paying $0-5/month) https://t.co/taeQUY6Rve

By Zach Brennan
FDA Backs Permanent Re‑authorization of Pediatric PRV Program
SocialApr 6, 2026

FDA Backs Permanent Re‑authorization of Pediatric PRV Program

FDA calls to permanently re-authorize the rare pediatric disease PRV program in Friday's 2027 budget plan -- far cry from the FDA that complained to the GAO about PRVs as distracting from their public health priorities https://t.co/i79F7X1ECw

By Zach Brennan
FDA Commissioner Seeks Private Partnerships for Collaboration and Regulation
SocialMar 27, 2026

FDA Commissioner Seeks Private Partnerships for Collaboration and Regulation

Couple interesting meetings for FDA Commissioner Makary: met with Arnold Ventures on Mar. 3 about "collaboration opportunities" https://t.co/vEyhDu5xaW and with $MNPR on "establishing a regulatory mechanism" on Mar. 13 https://t.co/DHaD6IlvCS

By Zach Brennan
Prasad’s CBER Saw Frequent Overrules, Unlike Rest of FDA
SocialMar 20, 2026

Prasad’s CBER Saw Frequent Overrules, Unlike Rest of FDA

caveat here is that it was routine when Prasad ran CBER (at least 4 overrules in Prasad's 10 mo. tenure) but it didn't/doesn't still seem to be happening elsewhere in FDA

By Zach Brennan
CBER Updates SOPs, Enables RMAT for Held Therapies
SocialMar 18, 2026

CBER Updates SOPs, Enables RMAT for Held Therapies

CBER changes its standard operating procedures to open the door to RMAT designations for therapies on clinical hold - https://t.co/bZmhga8xxC

By Zach Brennan
FDA Urges IRB Overhaul to Match China's 60‑day Trials
SocialMar 16, 2026

FDA Urges IRB Overhaul to Match China's 60‑day Trials

FDA commissioner Makary at a CMS conference today in Baltimore calls for “big and different” IRB reforms to catch China's speedy trial starts - pre-IND phase can run 380 days in the US, he said, while China is pushing for...

By Zach Brennan
Linking U.S. Medicare Payments to Global Benchmarks Matters
SocialMar 16, 2026

Linking U.S. Medicare Payments to Global Benchmarks Matters

CMS' CMMI dir. Abe Sutton at quality conf. in Baltimore today: "tying what we pay to what other countries pay across Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D and Medicaid really matters."

By Zach Brennan
Sen. Markey Admits He Doesn
SocialMar 11, 2026

Sen. Markey Admits He Doesn

Sen. Markey (D-Mass.) tells me outside the Capitol he doesn’t know who Vinay Prasad is and would need to be briefed by staff to respond to questions on the FDA

By Zach Brennan
GSK Secures Approval Yet Refuses to Produce Drug
SocialMar 10, 2026

GSK Secures Approval Yet Refuses to Produce Drug

$GSK is ostensibly the "sponsor" that won the approval but is once again saying it won't produce the drug.

By Zach Brennan
Prasad’s Missteps as CBER Chief Spark Criticism
SocialMar 7, 2026

Prasad’s Missteps as CBER Chief Spark Criticism

On Prasad’s last few weeks as CBER chief: 1. It was absurdly inappropriate to bring a large group of reporters together and rail on a pending application “on background” 2. The walk back of the Moderna RTF was a bad...

By Zach Brennan
FDA COO Butler Retires After One Year; Deputy Assumes Role
SocialMar 4, 2026

FDA COO Butler Retires After One Year; Deputy Assumes Role

after just one year in the position, FDA COO Butler will retire, and his deputy will take over in April - https://t.co/9qmmIiuWX2

By Zach Brennan
Immedica Secures Accelerated Approval, Plans PRV Sale
SocialFeb 24, 2026

Immedica Secures Accelerated Approval, Plans PRV Sale

Immedica wins accelerated approval for once-rejected rare disease drug, plans to sell PRV - https://t.co/wU3AfqQzjw

By Zach Brennan
FDA Issues Guidance on New Individualized Therapy Pathway
SocialFeb 23, 2026

FDA Issues Guidance on New Individualized Therapy Pathway

Building off the Baby KJ success story: FDA unveils long-awaited guidance on new pathway for individualized therapies - https://t.co/Uetp1cGFq2

By Zach Brennan