Welcome to the Week in Review.
TrumpRx MFN Deals Are Designed to Run Out
The Trump administration has promoted its Most Favored Nation agreements with pharmaceutical companies as a breakthrough on drug pricing, but recent SEC filings reveal that at least some of the 16 participating companies structured their deals to expire after three years. Additional disclosures from Merck and Sanofi show that certain high-cost and newly launched products are excluded all together. This week, Democratic health leaders in the House and Senate sent a letter demanding these deals be made public, but even without the full picture, early patient feedback suggests limited impact. P4AD CEO Merith Basey noted in a statement for STAT News that one month into TrumpRx: “For several patients in our community, TrumpRx prices are the same or even higher than what they currently pay with insurance.” The design raises a broader concern. Voluntary agreements that exclude key products and sunset within a few years do not create the long-term, systemwide savings that patients need. Americans need permanent reform with real enforcement, not deals relying on the “goodwill” of drug corporations that are designed to run out. — [STAT News, Merck, Sanofi, Congress, STAT News]
GENEROUS Model Deadline Extended
The White House extended the application deadline for its new GENEROUS CMMI model by a month, pushing it to April 30 to allow more time for more manufacturers to sign up, though they also noted that the final deadline for participation is June 30. The program aims to secure supplemental rebates from drugmakers to bring certain Medicaid drug prices in line with lower international benchmarks. While companies such as Pfizer and AstraZeneca already signed on, others remain reluctant. But even if the model achieves broad uptake, its patient impact is likely limited. Medicaid already has among the lowest net drug prices of any other U.S. payer, meaning further reductions are more likely to benefit state budgets than significantly reduce patient out-of-pocket costs. — [Fierce Pharma, STAT News]
Patient Advocate Spotlight: Trevor Watts
Condition: Type 2 diabetes
Drug: Farxiga ($178.50 negotiated price)
Background: Retired glazier and Habitat for Humanity volunteer living in Roseburg, Oregon
In Her Words: “My health journey took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of 62. Managing my health hasn’t been easy, especially financially. Before negotiation, my Farxiga prescription meant sacrificing things like a better vehicle and not traveling to see family. Even basic needs like dental care had to be put on hold. One of the most significant sacrifices was neglecting repairs to my damaged roof due to the costs of medicine.”
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