In this week's podcast edition of Five Must-Know Things: GSK’s R&D head departs; Bayer’s pharma R&D chief prioritizes assets; new US launches in atopic dermatitis; is Abivax an M&A target; and China’s gene therapy developers rush to the clinic.

Cost increases initially spurred by supply chain disruptions by COVID-19 pandemic have been noted by businesses across consumer product industries since soon after novel coronavirus spread accelerated in early 2020.  More recently, OTC drug, nutritional supplement and personal care product providers began noting inflation’s influence on costs.

The company presented 18-month data at a conference that it thinks will support strong uptake. European regulators required the 18-month data for filing; an FDA decision based on 9-month data is expected in April.

Mark McClellan discusses whether CMS’s pending final version of the Medicare national coverage determination on Alzheimer’s drugs might change from the draft and whether the decision should be viewed as a precedent for drugs granted accelerated approvals.