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AbbVie has retained Trump-connected Winston-Salem-based Checkmate Government Relations for healthcare matters and issues related to the life sciences sector.
The North Chicago company on Feb. 11 sued the Department of Health and Human Services, challenging the move by its Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unit to slap price controls on its Botox product.
It claims that Botox is among the medications that Congress excluded from the Medicare drug price negotiation program created under the Inflation Reduction Act.
AbbVie also says the price cap violates its First Amendment rights by forcing it to claim that the price charged for Botox is “fair.”
The suit names HHS chief Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and CMS administrator Mehmet Oz as defendants.
Botox generates 10 percent of AbbVie’s $61.2B annual revenues.
Checkmate managing partner Ches McDowell, who headed the North Carolina branch of Sportsmen for Trump, heads the AbbVie team.
He joined by healthcare practice director Caitlin Koury and PA director Chris LaCivita, Jr.
Ballard Partners has added defense technology company Sempre to help it land federal contracts for digital infrastructure projects.
Flock Safety has hired Off Hill Strategies, a boutique lobby firm that boasts of its commitment to conservative principles.
Ballard Partners has signed South Korea’s SK Americas unit for representation on US semiconductor policies and developments.
Ballard Partners has signed to a represent the US unit of Rheinmetall, Germany’s biggest defense contractor, on Army procurement issues.
BGR Group signs on to provide lobbying and PR services for Terzo, an AI financial intelligence platform. Douglas Lute, chair of BGR’s international and defense practices, will join Terzo’s board of directors.
