1. More Bad Behavior
- The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against biotech giant Regeneron alleging that the company violated federal kickback laws. The DOJ says the company siphoned tens of millions of dollars into a patient assistance foundation to cover Medicare patients’ copay for its expensive macular degeneration drug Eylea. The move kept more Medicare beneficiaries on the drug, allowing Regeneron to reap billions of dollars from Medicare reimbursements. It’s yet another example of pharma putting profits over patients. — (Reuters)
2. Congress Calls for COVID-19 Action
- A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced bills this week designed to ensure taxpayers get a fair price on COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. American taxpayers are fueling the research and development of COVID-19 drugs. On behalf of patients, we are grateful for the introduction of these bills and will fight to get them through Congress. — (STAT)
3. Learning From History
- A new video released by Patients For Affordable Drugs this week juxtaposes the history of polio vaccine development in the 1950s with the current race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. The inventor of the polio vaccine, Jonas Salk, refused to profit from his life-saving creation. It’s a history lesson modern day pharmaceutical manufacturers should learn from in the midst of our current health crisis. — (P4AD)
4. Staking a Claim
- A new investigation from Axios and Public Citizen found that the National Institutes of Health has filed patents to stake ownership of the technology behind Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. This means U.S. taxpayers are not only funding the development of potential vaccines but may own parts of the end product. It’s all the more reason, and opportunity, for the government to ensure COVID-19 drugs are affordable and accessible. — (Axios)
5. Let’s Get Our Priorities Straight
- Drug companies and U.S. taxpayers are engaged in a tug of war, with pharma angling to capitalize on the COVID-19 crisis while American taxpayers are calling for affordable vaccines and treatments. Drug companies should be allowed to make a fair profit on their products, but not at the cost of patients and public health. — (NPR)