• Maryland: According to a new analysis from KFF, 18 states have limited access to Ryan White AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), which help pay for HIV treatments or cover insurance premiums for eligible patients, due to financial restraints. ADAPs are funded by Congress, but funding for the programs has remained stagnant for over a decade, even has treatment costs have continued to increase. To reduce program costs, many states have restricted eligibility by income or reduced the number of medications required — leading to tens of thousands of people losing access to HIV medications or insurance. Five other states are also considering similar changes that would take effect next month. "We're expecting to see more states anticipating or contending with budget deficits, and we do anticipate a growing number of states having to implement cost-containment measures," said Tim Horn, director of medication access at the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. (Mandavilli, New York Times, 3/2)
• Massachusetts: Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci, BioNTech's cofounders, will leave the company at the end of the year. Sahin, who is currently BioNTech's CEO, and Türeci, who is currently the company's CMO, founded the company with Christoph Huber in 2008. BioNTech rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic after it collaborated with Pfizer to create an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Sahin and Türeci will depart BioNTech by the end of the year and run a new biotechnology startup focused on researching and developing next-generation mRNA treatments. BioNTech will have a minority stake in the new company and give it certain rights to the company's mRNA technology. "Over the past 18 years, we have built BioNTech from a start-up into a global biopharmaceutical company with a strong and diversified pipeline," Sahin said. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, we expanded beyond oncology to develop the first approved mRNA vaccine, helping to protect people worldwide. Today, the company is well positioned to advance its mission and evolve into a commercial multi-product company." Currently, BioNTech is searching for candidates to succeed Sahin as CEO and Türeci as CMO. (Joseph, STAT+ [subscription required], 3/10; Calatayud/Koons, Wall Street Journal, 3/10)
• Minnesota: Last month, Target announced that it will require all cereals it sells, including national brands, to be made without synthetic colors by the end of May. According to Axios, Target is one of the first national retailers to require additives be removed from an entire grocery category. "We know consumers are increasingly prioritizing healthier lifestyles, and we're moving quickly to evolve our offerings to meet their needs," said Cara Sylvester, Target's EVP and chief merchandising officer. Currently, several major food companies, including General Mills and Kraft Heinz, have pledged to remove artificial colors from their U.S. products by 2027. According to FDA's food industry tracker, many food companies are currently in multiyear phaseouts of synthetic colors through 2027. Only a few companies, such as Sam's Club and Tyson Foods, have completed their pledges to remove synthetic colors from their food products. (Tyko, Axios, 2/27)

Learn eight key insights about succession planning, drawn from conversations with HR executives, to help your executive team and board build a strong, diverse leadership bench ready to meet current and future challenges.