While the U.S. has historically led the global pharmaceutical industry by pursuing both continual innovation and high quality, those strengths could become areas of weakness in times of political uncertainty, according to PA Consulting expert Andy Prinz.

Several drugs already selected for Medicare price negotiations, including Novo Nordisk A/S’ mega-blockbuster diabetes/weight-loss franchise, could see up to a three-year reprieve if a bipartisan bill recently introduced in the U.S. House and Senate becomes law.

Positive top-line data from phase II and III studies of lorundrostat for treating uncontrolled or resistant hypertension propelled Mineralys Therapeutics Inc.’s stock sharply upward on March 10. The phase III Launch-HTN study hit its primary endpoint in reducing systolic blood pressure and the phase II Advance-HTN study also met its primary endpoint of a clinically meaningful reduction in blood pressure. Oral lorundrostat targets dysregulated mineralcorticoid aldosterone as a selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor. Mineralys estimated there to be about 15- to 20-million patients with uncontrolled hypertension in the U.S. On March 10, the Radnor, Pa.-based company’s shares (NASDAQ:MLYS) closed 42% upward at $14.96 each.

Persica Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has delivered positive 12-month follow-up data from its phase Ib study of PP-353, an injectable antibiotic for treating chronic lower back pain, and is now looking for a partner and further financing to take the product into phase III development.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc is buying Chimerix Inc. for $8.55 a share in cash, bringing the deal in at about $935 million. Jazz expands its cancer pipeline with the new acquisition’s lead candidate, dordaviprone, a small molecule for treating a rare, aggressive glioma that’s often found in children and young adults.