A patient speaks in Connecticut. Big Pharma helps itself to the spoils of a tax windfall. And one drug company CEO makes a strong play to be the next Martin Shkreli.
1. A cancer patient speaks
In Connecticut, Greta Stifel told her lawmakers that her cancer medicines cost $22,000 a month. She’d like an explanation. — (NBC)
2. Profits over patients
Drug corporations are not using tax windfalls to help patients. They’re using them to buy back stock. Which is very cool unless you’re sick, a taxpayer, or a person with a conscience. — (USA Today)
3. Ohio takes aim at PBMs
PBMs operate in secret and the Buckeye State isn’t happy about it. — (Columbus Dispatch)
4. For cancer patients, less bang for their buck
As cancer drug prices climb, the value is not keeping pace. — (Reuters)
5. Gouger Alert! Vertex CEO took home $78.5 million in 2017
Jeffrey Leiden won’t give children dying abroad access to charity-funded, life-extending cystic fibrosis medicines, but he will happily take home a $78.5 million salary package. — (Axios)
The week in drug pricing has been marked with dormant dashboards, broken promises and bloated CEO salaries.
So, let’s get to it.
1. Dormant drug dashboards
HHS has not updated the databases that tell the public how much money the government is paying for drugs. The inaction follows repeated promises from President Trump that “one of my greatest priorities is to reduce the price of prescription drugs.” — (CNN)
2. “We were forced to file for bankruptcy to afford my insulin.”
