• California: Earlier this month, Amgen announced that it will no longer develop an early-stage obesity pill. Instead, the company plans to focus on a more advanced injectable obesity drug that could potentially compete against Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound. Amgen's experimental drug MariTide is a monoclonal antibody linked to two peptides that activates receptors of the GLP-1 hormone while tamping down those of the GIP hormone. Compared to Wegovy and Zepbound, which are injected weekly, MariTide is dosed monthly and is expected to last longer in patients' bodies. In a Phase 1 study of the drug, eight patients who received the highest dose lost an average of 14.5% of their body weight over a roughly three-month period. The drug is currently being tested in a Phase 2 trial for obesity, and Amgen is planning a Phase 3 trial where it will be tested in obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related conditions. According to Amgen CEO Bob Bradway, the company is "very encouraged with the results" from an interim analysis of the Phase 2 trial and is already starting activities "to expand manufacturing capacity with both clinical and commercial supply in mind." (Chen, STAT+ [subscription required], 5/2)
• District of Columbia: HHS, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, announced $46.8 million in new funding opportunities to promote behavioral health as part of President Biden's Unity Agenda. The funding will be used to support several behavioral health initiatives, including the Minority Fellowship Program and the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers Cooperative Agreements. "Continuing to invest in informed and equitable approaches to mental health and substance use is essential to the health and well-being of individuals and families," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "These grants directly impact the behavioral health of communities around the nation and are a critical part of the commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration to enhancing accessibility of evidence-based, effective behavioral health care services." (HHS press release, 5/8)
• Georgia: According to new provisional CDC data, pregnancy-related deaths in the United States declined in 2023, falling to pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, around 680 women died during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, down from 817 deaths in 2022 and 1,205 in 2021. The U.S. maternal mortality rate in 2023 was roughly 19 deaths per 100,000 live births, which was in line with the 2018 and 2019 rates. However, despite these declines in maternal deaths, racial disparities persist. Currently, Black women have a maternal death rate that is 2.5 times higher than white or Hispanic women. "I think there's good news. We're making strides in certain areas," said Laura Riley, head ob/gyn at Weill Cornell Medicine. "But the bad news and scary news is ... there are these other political and social forces that make this [reducing maternal deaths] difficult." (Associated Press/MedPage Today, 5/2; Simmons-Duffin, "Shots," NPR, 5/2)

Maternal mortality rates are a growing concern, particularly among Black women. From expanding reimbursement for doulas and midwives to increasing postpartum coverage to embracing technology-based tools, learn how health plans are taking steps to drive better outcomes for pregnant people.