Blank Rome partner Merle M. DeLancey Jr. will serve as a co-chair and speaker for the American Conference Institute’s (“ACI”) 20th Annual BIG FOUR Pharmaceutical Pricing Boot Camp, being held June 24 and 25, 2026, as a virtual conference.

About the Program

ACI’s 20th Annual Big Four Pharmaceutical Pricing Bootcamp curriculum reflects the latest policy shifts, market changes, and compliance requirements shaping federal drug pricing today. This year’s program provides an in-depth, step-by-step guide to the fundamentals and advanced complexities of contracting with the Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Public Health Service 340B Program, and Coast Guard, with special emphasis on how market forces and new regulatory obligations affect federal pricing benchmarks.

Merle and fellow co-chairs James Kim (Shareholder, Polsinelli PC) and Christopher Weiser (Associate General Counsel, Value & Access and Pricing, Teva Pharmaceuticals) will present opening remarks on both days of the conference. Day 1’s opening remarks will include a holistic overview of major policy developments—especially the Inflation Reduction Act, tariffs, and Most-Favored-Nation—and how these policies shape drug prices and negotiations.

Merle’s panel session, “In-Depth Look at Post-Award Audits: How to Prepare and Participate with Confidence and Clarity,” will take place on Thursday, June 25, from 1:05 to 2:05 p.m. EDT.

About the Session

Topics include:

  • Examining the audit process in relation to FSS contracting
  • Understanding the scope of the audit—FCP applicable to VA and DoD
  • Preparing for and explaining price adjustments (defective pricing), price reductions, and racking customer price and ratio
  • Developing methods for preparing voluntary disclosures
  • Understanding when and why actions such as refusing a VA request for information can result in penalties
  • Unpacking the penalties that can be levied for non-compliance

Panelists:

  • T. Reed Stephens, Partner, Co-Chair, Health Care and Life Sciences Industry Group, Winston & Strawn LLP
  • Merle M. DeLancey, Jr., Partner, Government Contracts, Blank Rome LLP

For more information or to register, please visit the event webpage.