Pharmalittle: We’re reading about an AstraZeneca U.K. vaccine plant, Medicare premiums, and more

Hello, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you, especially since the middle of the week is upon us. After all, we have made it this far, so we are determined to hang on for another couple of days. And why not? The alternatives — at least those we can identify — are not particularly appetizing. And what better way to make the time fly than to keep busy. So grab that cup of stimulation and get started. Our flavor today is chocolate raspberry, for those tracking our habits. Now, though, the time has come to get busy. So please grab your own cup and dig in to the items of interest assembled below. We hope you have a wonderful day, and please do keep in touch. …

A multi-million dollar vaccine plant being built in the U.K. by AstraZeneca is under threat amid reports the Treasury could cut the state aid being offered to support it, The Telegraph telegraphs. Government ministers are said to be considering reducing the amount of state aid for the project on Merseyside by as much as $25 million – sparking fears that it could be called off or moved abroad. The previous chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, reportedly offered around $85 million to AstraZeneca to encourage the development of vaccines in a Liverpool suburb where the company wants to develop new vaccines. However, this figure has reportedly been revised downward, raising fears the project could be moved to France.

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One of President Joe Biden’s signature domestic achievements is set to cause a significant spike in Medicare premiums for millions of Americans just ahead of the November election. Now, his administration is preparing to dole out billions of dollars to private insurance companies to blunt the impact of the increase, Politico explains. The jump in premiums is a consequence of efforts to reduce what older Americans pay for prescription drugs, part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Insurance companies are on the hook for what patients used to pay and are raising drug plan premiums to make up the difference.

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