• Delaware: Judge Colm Connolly from the U.S. District Court of Delaware on Friday ruled against AstraZeneca, which challenged the constitutionality of Medicare's drug price negotiations program. In the lawsuit, AstraZeneca argued the drug price negotiations program violated the Fifth Amendment and that CMS guidance for the program violated the Administrative Procedure Act. However, Connolly ruled against the company, saying that it failed to properly establish its standing to challenge the federal government on Medicare drug price negotiations. He also determined that the company's rights were not violated since it can voluntarily choose whether to sell medications to Medicare. "No one … is entitled to sell the government drugs at prices the government won't agree to pay," Connolly wrote. AstraZeneca's lawsuit is one of several that have been filed against Medicare's drug price negotiations program. Last month, a federal district judge in Texas dismissed a similar case filed by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. (Cohrs, STAT+ [subscription required], 3/1; Choi, The Hill, 3/1)
• Illinois/Rhode Island: CVS Health and Walgreens will begin dispensing the abortion medication mifepristone in a few states within the next few weeks. Last year, FDA finalized a rule allowing retail pharmacies to offer abortion medication in an effort to expand patients' access to the drug. In a statement, CVS said it plans to fill prescriptions for mifepristone "in the weeks ahead" in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Walgreens will begin dispensing the medication within a week at some locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois. Both companies said they would gradually expand to all other states where abortion is legal and pharmacies are legally able to dispense abortion pills. According to President Joe Biden, the move is "an important milestone" in ensuring access to mifepristone. "With major retail pharmacy chains newly certified to dispense medication abortion, many women will soon have the option to pick up their prescription at a local, certified pharmacy—just as they would for any other medication," he said. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a challenge over mifepristone access on March 26, with a decision expected by late June. (Murphy, Associated Press, 3/1; Habeshian/Tyko, Axios, 3/1; Belluck, New York Times, 3/1)
• Utah: Nutraceutical Corporation is recalling more than 102,000 bottles of its Heritage Store Hydrogen Peroxide mouthwash due to potential poisoning risks. According to the recall notice, the mouthwash lacks child-resistant packaging and may be hazardous if swallowed by young children since it contains ethanol. Under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, products containing ethanol in a concentration must have child-resistant packaging. The recall notice stated that consumers should "immediately store the recalled mouthwash in a safe location out of reach and sight of children" and contact Nutraceutical if they want a refund or a replacement. (Tyko, Axios, 2/29)

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