Letting academic medical centers make CAR-T drugs would save billions. — (STAT Op-Ed)
2. Betrayal
Doctors who were instrumental in developing a groundbreaking heart drug are now decrying its exorbitant price tag. — (Bloomberg)
3. Forced to Buy High
While generic drugs are seeing approvals in record number, these drugs are increasingly experiencing delays when it comes to reaching patients. — (The Wall Street Journal)
4. “Most new drugs aren’t that innovative.”
Big Pharma’s biggest argument for maintaining high prescription prices is full of cracks. — (The Hill)
5. Congress, Please Wake Up
America wants lower drug prices. How many times and in how many ways and with how many polls can we say this???? — (Kaiser Family Foundation)
1. “Why is the price so high?”
In recognition of World Diabetes Day, P4AD released a new report that tells the story of how the insulin pricing crisis came to be and what we must do to fix it. — (P4AD & NBC)
2. Something Must Change
A new study found that 34 million Americans know at least one person who has died after not receiving medical treatment due to cost — including drug prices. — (Gallup)
3. OK, Pharma
In 2018, prices for some of the most widely used drugs increased by more than double the rate of inflation. — (AARP)
4. False Claims Exposed
A new analysis found brand-name drugmakers could lose $1 trillion in lower sales and *still* be the most profitable industry sector ($@%#!?), all while maintaining current research investments.— (West Health)
5. Forced to Ration
In the U.S., patients are far more likely than in other developed nations to ration drugs due to cost. — (The New York Times)
It’s a good week when the government stands up to Big Pharma patent predators.
1. PrEP Yourself For a Showdown
The U.S. government filed a lawsuit accusing drug maker Gilead of ignoring government patents while raking in billions from HIV-prevention drugs (funded with millions in taxpayer investment). — (The Washington Post)
2. The Struggle is Real
A recent study found that more than half of Medicare enrollees face financial hardships, especially when it comes to prescription drug costs. — (Chicago Tribune)
3. It’s Not Working
The way we pay for prescription drugs is broken, but not beyond repair. H.R. 3 is a promising solution. — (The New York Times Editorial Board)
4. Her Insulin Costs More Than Her Mortgage
P4AD patient advocate Gail DeVore, a person with type 1 diabetes, shares her story about the crippling impact of sky-high insulin prices — (News 5 Cleveland)
5. 2020
A new poll in key battleground states finds health care — and that always includes drug pricing — is a top issue for voters in the lead up to 2020. — (Kaiser Family Foundation & Cook Political Report)
1. Big Pharma’s Zombie Lies Must Die
Dr. Peter Bach explains how the U.S. can lower drug prices at little cost to drug discovery. — (Bloomberg)
2. Get into it
Rep. Steven Horsford reminds us lowering drug prices is one of the most bipartisan things ever. Get it done, Congress. — (Las Vegas Sun)
3. Patient voices heard
Patients who require unaffordable prescriptions to live — Revlimid and insulin — share the red tape and heartbreak. — (Al Jazeera America)
4. Yes, but
The cystic fibrosis community (including this CF mom) is rightly celebrating an exciting new drug. But at $311k/year, patients who spent their lifetimes fundraising to create new treatments are sure to be left behind. — (The Washington Post)
5. The Money Train
As Big Pharma prepares for what could be one of its most challenging years in Washington, the lobby’s minions swarm Congress to maintain their influence. — (Open Secrets)
Will Washington take a swing at lowering drug prices? Senate, House, and Administration reforms would be a home run for patients.
1.The Plot Thickens
A new report uncovered an elaborate campaign complete with celebrity cops, seven-figure ads, and a shady consulting firm — all funded by PhRMA. — (Bloomberg)
2. A Win for Patients
The House Ways & Means Committee took a significant step in the right direction by voting to advance HR 3, legislation that would lower drug prices for all Americans — regardless of insurance type. — (AP)
3. The Legacy of a Hero
America lost drug pricing hero Rep. Elijah Cummings. Now, House members are advancing a bill in his honor. — (Fierce Pharma)
4. Taxpayer drug development
Over the past decade, one in four new medicines benefitted from late-stage taxpayer-funded research, including clinical trials. Time for pharma to stop price gouging off of public science. — (British Medical Journal)
5. Big Momentum:
Patients are speaking out, and ideas and legislation are moving forward in the Senate and the House. — (P4ADN)
1. Let. Medicare. Negotiate. Already.
A sweeping Medicare negotiation bill saw hearings and markups this week. It’s moving, folks! — (Los Angeles Times)
2.Let’s Get the Job Done
Patients For Affordable Drugs Now has launched a multi-million dollar campaign to encourage lawmakers in DC to make history and lower drug prices. Patient voices will be heard! — (The Hill)
The public is demanding that Congress make lowering drug prices its top priority! — (KFF and JAMA)
5. Transparency in Action!
California passed a major drug pricing transparency bill in 2017, and the first public report stemming from that law is out. The new information is sure to inspire and inform future drug pricing reforms. — (Kaiser Health News)
If the Nats can make the NLCS without Bryce Harper, surely Washington can pass drug pricing reform by the end of the year.
1. Patients Win in California!
California became the first state in the country to ban abusive pay-for-delay deals that keep low-cost generics off the market and out of patients’ hands. — (FiercePharma)
2.Big Price Increases, Because ?♂️
The top seven best-selling drugs experienced price increases with no reasonable justification. YOLO, said Pharma in response. — (Endpoints News)
3. Patient Groups Paid Off
Some of Big Pharma’s biggest players shoveled $650 million into hundreds of nonprofits last year — including those campaigning against federal drug pricing legislation. Things that make you go hmmm. — (Bloomberg Government)
4. Raising Her Voice
P4AD advocate and drug pricing hero Sa’Ra Skipper and her little sister live with type 1 diabetes. Sa’Ra almost lost her sister after they shared their insulin supply, and now, she’s speaking out. — (Patients For Affordable Drugs)
5. Bye, Felicia
BIO’s Jim Greenwood is resigning after the 2020 election. We hope the next BIO chief will bring drug pricing solutions to the table — instead of standing in the way. — (FierceBiotech)
Slow news week.
1. Fear-mongering: Activate!
The drug lobby is throwing mounds of cash around in an attempt to convince lawmakers that drug pricing’s status quo should remain. Voters disagree! — (Wall Street Journal)
2.Four Times More
The latest investigation from Congress shows the U.S. pays an average of four times more for prescription drugs as compared to other countries — and in some cases, 67 times more. — (The Fiscal Times)
3. Black Market Insulin
Virginia patient explains the choice she was forced to make to stay alive. — (Local12)
4. Myth Busted
Pharma’s biggest talking point — lower prices will kill innovation — is debunked once again. — (STAT)
5. ?? imports?
The Trump administration announced it’s on track to release an executive order to import some prescription drugs. — (The Washington Post)
