Pharmalittle: Biden in no rush to allow drug imports from Canada; deal on Covid-19 IP waiver remains elusive

Hello, everyone, and nice to see you again after taking an extended weekend break. Nothing like a little time away from the laptop, yes? But alas, the usual routine of online calls and deadlines has, not surprisingly, returned. But what can you do? The world keeps spinning, after all. So we are firing up the coffee kettle and brewing a fresh cup of stimulation to fortify our nerves. Our choice today is cinnamon hazelnut, for those tracking the pantry contents. Meanwhile, here are a few tidbits to get you started. Hope you have a smashing day, and do stay in touch. …

The Biden administration has no timeline on whether it will allow states to import drugs from Canada, an effort that was approved under President Trump as a key strategy to control costs, NPR tells us. Six states have passed laws to start such programs, and Florida, Colorado and New Mexico are the furthest along in plans to get federal approval. The Biden administration said states still have several hurdles to get through, including a review by the Food and Drug Administration, and the efforts may face pressures from the Canadian government.

A deal on an intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organization was no closer to acceptance on Monday despite Washington’s backing, due to expected skepticism about a new draft, Reuters writes. Negotiations reopened at the WTO on Monday, focused on a highly anticipated revised draft submitted by India, South Africa, and dozens of other developing countries last week. A Geneva trade official said the proposal to start text-based discussions “gained traction” on Monday.

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