We are looking ahead with hope for 2021: For speedy access to a COVID-19 vaccine for every American — and for lower drug prices. Welcome to the Week In Review.
1. Disputing a Double Charge
- Drug corporations have historically been unwilling to invest money in risky research on vaccines, so when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, governments around the world stepped up to finance the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines. Now Big Pharma is cashing in with vaccine prices that will yield huge profits. — (BBC)
2. We’re Saving Ourselves
- Pharma is using the COVID-19 vaccine successes to try to rehabilitate its image — hoping the much-needed success will erase years of abuse of patients and consumers. But the vaccines are actually built on years of research by government and university scientists. Having received public support every step of the way, drug corporations shouldn’t be allowed to set prices and claim patent rights that put private profits ahead of public health. — (The New York Times)
3. Bipartisan Calls For Action
- Two longtime members of Congress reasserted their commitments to fight for affordable prescription drugs. Rep. Doggett (D-TX) published an op-ed this week calling for Congress and the incoming administration to take action to ensure that access to the COVID-19 vaccines is not impeded by high prices and patent rights. Senator Grassley (R-IA) expressed his hope to work with President-elect Biden to advance bipartisan legislation to bring relief to millions of Americans suffering from high drug prices. We couldn’t agree more — if Democrats and Republicans can work together, 2021 could be a big year for drug pricing reform. — (USA Today, The Gazette)
4. What a Coincidence
- The arthritis drug baricitinib was granted an emergency use authorization by the FDA as a part of a COVID-19 treatment regimen with Gilead’s remdesivir. But some doctors are concerned that the drug — at a price of about $1,500 per patient — is too expensive to reasonably prescribe. Earlier this year, Eli Lilly increased the price of its brand-name version of baricitinib, Olumiant, just five days before the Lancet published an articlesuggesting its use for COVID-19. Frankly, none of the companies are showing pricing restraint in light of the pandemic. They are just maximizing profits as usual. — (The New York Times)
5. More Patient Assistance Ploys
- Pharmaceutical corporation Biogen will pay $22 million to settle a case with the U.S. Justice Department that charged the company with paying kickbacks disguised as charity to the Medicare program. Biogen is just the latest company to fall under scrutiny for the practice — Regeneron and Teva both faced cases for the same kind of violation earlier this year. Instead of violating federal law, drug companies could make their drugs accessible by… lowering their prices — (Reuters)