• Delaware: On Tuesday, GSK filed a lawsuit against Moderna in a U.S. federal court in Delaware, claiming GSK's patented technology "provided the foundation" for Moderna's mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus. According to Axios, the lawsuit concerns lipid nanoparticles used to transport mRNA in vaccines, a technology that GSK claims infringes on its patents. Currently, GSK has asked the court for an unspecified amount of monetary damages and that it be paid an ongoing licensing fee for its patented technologies. In response to the lawsuit, a Moderna spokesperson said the company will defend itself against the claims. Previously, GSK filed a similar lawsuit against Pfizer and BioNTech. Moderna has also filed its own patent infringement lawsuit against Pfizer in the United States and several other countries. (Goldman, Axios, 10/16)
• District of Columbia: Earlier this month, CMS released its proposed standards for the health insurance marketplaces for 2026. If finalized, CMS will have enhanced authority to address and prevent bad behavior from agents and brokers, such as adding fraudulent charges to an enrollees' healthcare coverage. CMS has also proposed several updates to the risk adjustment program, medical loss ratio calculations, and essential community provider certification review process. The proposed rule also includes updates that would help enrollees better understand their costs and maintain their healthcare coverage. For example, there are new updates to the standardized plan options and a new enrollee notification process for tax filing and advanced premium tax credits. (AHA News, 10/7; CMS fact sheet, 10/4)
• New York: Last week, WeightWatchers announced that it will sell compounded versions of certain weight-loss drugs that are currently in shortage. Specifically, the company plans to sell compounded versions of semaglutide, which is the main ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy. The compounded versions will cost $129 for the first month, followed by $189 per month after that, as well as a non-refundable $49 initial consultation fee. Patients will also be able to access support from board-certified clinicians and registered dietitians. "This launch is the culmination of extensive research and rigorous work by our team to ensure that we are offering the highest quality care — reaffirming the trust we've built over six decades as the leader in weight management," said Tara Comonte, WeightWatchers' interim CEO. (Bomey, Axios, 10/8)

After the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in mRNA vaccines jumped, and many pharmaceutical companies are now testing the technology against other diseases, including cancer. Although data on mRNA cancer vaccines is still preliminary, some health experts say they could be "gamechangers in immunotherapy."