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Ozempic vs Wegovy
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Meds made by Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Eli Lilly among those up for Medicare price negotiations

The 15 drugs include GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy and were used by over 5 million Americans.

J. Edward Moreno
1/17/25 10:56AM

Ozempic is among the new slate of medications that will be subject to price negotiations for Medicare, the Department of Health and Human Services said Friday.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 gave HHS the power to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers for medications covered under Medicare, a government health-insurance program for seniors. Medicare has negotiated prices for 10 drugs so far.

PhRMA, an industry trade organization, has long opposed Medicare price negotiations. In a Friday statement, the group called the price negotiations “dangerous” and said it stifles innovations. Major drugmakers have also sued the government to end the program.

The 15 drugs selected for price negotiations announced on Friday were used by 5.3 million people covered by Medicare between November 2023 and October 2024 and cost the government $41 billion, HHS said. Those medications are:

  • Ozempic; Rybelsus; Wegovy: various brand names for semaglutide, a popular weight-loss medication made by Novo Nordisk. 

  • Trelegy Ellipta: an inhaler made by GlaxoSmithKline. 

  • Xtandi: a medication that treats prostate cancer produced by Pfizer. 

  • Pomalyst: made by Bristol Myers Squibb and used to treat a blood cancer and a cancer that develops in people with HIV.

  • Ibrance: a breast-cancer treatment made by Pfizer. 

  • Ofev: a medication used to treat lung cancer made by Boehringer Ingelheim.

  • Linzess: treats IBS and constipation, made by Ironwood and AbbVie.

  • Calquence: treats certain types of blood cancers, made by AstraZeneca.

  • Austedo; Austedo XR: treats tardive dyskinesia or Huntington’s disease, made by Teva Pharmaceuticals. 

  • Breo Ellipta: an inhaler used for the maintenance treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, made by GSK. 

  • Tradjenta: used to treat Type 2 diabetes, made by Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly. 

  • Xifaxan: used to treat traveler’s diarrhea and IBS, made by Bausch Health. 

  • Vraylar: used to trade schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, made by AbbVie.

  • Janumet; Janumet XR: used to treat Type 2 diabetes, made by Merck & Co.

  • Otezla: used to treat certain types of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, made by Amgen. 

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Max Knoblauch
13h

Amazon is testing adding GM electric vans to its EV delivery fleet dominated by Rivian

Rivian may have some competition in its electric delivery van division: Bloomberg reports that Amazon is testing a small number of GM’s BrightDrop vans for its fleet.

According to Amazon, the test currently only includes a dozen of the vehicles. Amazon’s fleet also contains EVs from Ford, Stellantis, and Mercedes-Benz.

GM debuted BrightDrop in 2021, but the vehicles have struggled to sell and piled up on GM lots due to high prices and steep competition. GM began offering up to 40% rebates on the vehicles this year.

The test comes as Rivian struggles through tariffs and the end of EV tax credits. Earlier this year, it lowered its annual delivery outlook by about 13%. As of June, Amazon said it has more than 25,000 Rivian vans across the US. Earlier this week, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said the company is still on track to deliver 100,000 vans to Amazon by 2030 and is “thinking about what comes beyond” that initial target.

GM has sold 1,592 BrightDrop vans through the first half of the year, more than the full-year total it sold in 2024.

Amazon Tests GM EV Delivery Vans in Bid to Meet Climate Goals

Amazon Tests GM EV Delivery Vans in Bid to Meet Climate Goals

GM debuted BrightDrop in 2021, but the vehicles have struggled to sell and piled up on GM lots due to high prices and steep competition. GM began offering up to 40% rebates on the vehicles this year.

The test comes as Rivian struggles through tariffs and the end of EV tax credits. Earlier this year, it lowered its annual delivery outlook by about 13%. As of June, Amazon said it has more than 25,000 Rivian vans across the US. Earlier this week, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said the company is still on track to deliver 100,000 vans to Amazon by 2030 and is “thinking about what comes beyond” that initial target.

GM has sold 1,592 BrightDrop vans through the first half of the year, more than the full-year total it sold in 2024.

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Shake Shack is launching a French onion soup... burger

The fast-casual chain will be hoping premium upsells can fatten up its profit margins.

Shake Shack French onion soup burger
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Nia Warfield
9/11/25

Paramount Skydance reportedly preparing an Ellison-backed Warner Bros. Discovery takeover bid, sending shares soaring

Paramount Skydance is preparing a majority cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, The Wall Street Journal reported, sending shares of both companies surging. The Journal’s sources say the deal is backed by the Ellison family, led by David Ellison.

WBD shares were up 30% on the report, while Paramount Skydance jumped 8%.

The offer would cover WBD’s entire business — cable networks, movie studios, the whole enchilada. That comes after WBD announced plans last year to split into two divisions: one for streaming and studios, the other for its traditional cable and TV assets. A recent Wells Fargo note gave WBD a price target hike, primarily because the analysts viewed it as a prime takeover candidate.

If the deal goes through, it would bring together HBO, CNN, DC Studios, and Warner Bros.’ film library with Paramount+, Nickelodeon, and MTV, all under one umbrella.

Exclusive | Paramount Skydance Prepares Ellison-Backed Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

Exclusive | Paramount Skydance Prepares Ellison-Backed Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

The offer would cover WBD’s entire business — cable networks, movie studios, the whole enchilada. That comes after WBD announced plans last year to split into two divisions: one for streaming and studios, the other for its traditional cable and TV assets. A recent Wells Fargo note gave WBD a price target hike, primarily because the analysts viewed it as a prime takeover candidate.

If the deal goes through, it would bring together HBO, CNN, DC Studios, and Warner Bros.’ film library with Paramount+, Nickelodeon, and MTV, all under one umbrella.

Max Knoblauch
9/10/25
As tariffs take root, August new vehicle prices climb by the most in more than 2 years

According to data from Cox Automotive, 17 vehicle brands raised prices of their new vehicles by more than 3% in August.

Ford Issues Recalls On Some Of Its Mach-E Mustangs And Aviators

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