Quick message to PhRMA: We’re gonna ride til we can’t no more.
1. PrEP-ing for a Fight
The latest wave of HIV activists are challenging drug maker Gilead to make HIV prevention medication affordable for all who need it. — (NPR)
2. Cliff’s Notes
Drug pricing is cloaked in secrecy. This video breaks down the supply chain and the price hikes along each step of the way. — (The Wall Street Journal)
3. Better Than Mountains and Craft Beer
Colorado is the first state to place a price cap on out-of-control insulin prices. — (CBS)
4. Seniors Hurt the Most
A recent study found that cancer drug prices for seniors are on the rise, nearly doubling in some cases. — (JAMA)
5. Chart Pack!
The federal government negotiating for the most expensive medications in Medicare Part D? Yes, please. — (P4AD)
We have all the drug pricing news that’s fit to summarize. Welcome to the Week in Review in prescription drug pricing!
1. Almost Isn’t Good Enough
In an effort to reduce the public scrutiny around exorbitant insulin prices, Eli Lilly has began sales of its “half-priced” generic version of Humalog. It’s still not enough. — (CBS News)
2. Too. Much.
Novartis is charging more than $2 million for a gene therapy it can’t take full credit for. — (CNN)
3. Taken Hostage
Hackers aren’t the only hostage-takers in Baltimore. The self-insured city had filed an antitrust suit against a Johnson&Johnson subsidiary, accusing the drug maker of thwarting generic competition for an expensive cancer drug. — (The Baltimore Sun)
4. First in the Nation
Spunky Maryland’s new drug pricing affordability board will be enacted July 1. We expect more reforms to come from states this year. — (AP)
5. It’s Personal
P4AD founder David Mitchell spoke with Houston Public Media about the importance of addressing the rising costs of prescription drugs. — (Houston Public Media)
Former CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt summed up the insulin crisis in eight numbers:
3 6 21 39 275 4,000 – 6,000 30 million
Read it all here, and welcome to the Week in Review in prescription drug pricing!
1. The Price is Not Right
A coalition of attorneys general from more than 40 states is suing generic drug makers for price collusion in one of the biggest alleged industry-wide price fixing schemes in U.S history. — (CBS 60 Minutes)
2. #GlaxoSmithLies
GlaxoSmithKline has relied on a handful of abusive tactics to keep profit margins high while raising prices. In return, patients with asthma who need blockbusters like Advair are in dire straits. — (Patients For Affordable Drugs)
3. You Get a Yacht!
Health care CEOs made $2.6 billion last year. The highest salary went to a pharma executive. — (Axios)
4. All the Excuses
Research and development is often the go-to defense when pharma is questioned on mile-high prices, but a new study says it is nothing but spin. — (The Fiscal Times)
5. It Has to End
We need legislation to stop deals for delay and patent thickets, AbbVie’s monopolistic bread and butter. — (STAT)
This week the world welcomed a royal baby! However, unless your name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, you’ll probably still have to worry about the high cost of prescription drugs.
Welcome to the week in review in prescription drug pricing!
1. “It’ll be a big fight”
Novartis is gearing up to release a gene therapy that could save children living with the most severe type of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. But at $2 million for a course of therapy, parents aren’t sure their children will ever receive it. — (The Wall Street Journal)
2. Sky high in July
A finalized rule from HHS will require that drug companies include the list price of drugs in ads. It goes into effect July 9. — (TIME)
3.Reference this
A groundbreaking study from Johns Hopkins University shows how International Reference Pricing could save the government and patients BILLIONS! — (Health Affairs)
4.Patently absurd
Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary hearing on drug company patent abuses included P4AD’s very own David Mitchell, who discussed the human impact of Big Pharma’s abusive patent games. — (Kaiser Health News)
5.Robber barons would blush
Senators John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, proposed legislation this week to stop drug companies’ abusive patent tactics that block competition and crush taxpayers and patients. — (Bloomberg)
We would be remiss if we did not note the passing of one of the deans of health journalism, The New York Times’ Robert Pear. We will miss his kind spirit, tenacious reporting, and brilliant mind.
Robert, Thank You.
We hope you all have a chance to see Endgame this weekend. Our Endgame? Lower drug prices.
Welcome to the week in review in prescription drug pricing!
1. Fake patient advocacy on the rise
The pharmaceutical industry is secretly funneling cash into sham non-profit organizations under the guise of helping patients. Look inside this murky world. — (Bloomberg)
2. Woman v. The Machine
In Maine, “The lone voice of a woman from Limestone lays bare the travesty of high drug prices.” — (The Press Herald)
3. The Everglades
In the first three months of 2019, PhRMA spent $10 million for 27 in-house lobbyists and 20 outside lobbyists. Swampy. — (STAT & Bloomberg)
4. Good luck with that
PhRMA has launched a campaign to defend high drug prices at the ballot box. Another day, another deception. Scroll through Twitter users’ fiery reactions. — (Twitter reactions to @PhRMA)
5. America, meet the drug pricing vernacular
Terms like “pay-for-delay” go mainstream as presidential contenders lift the veil on Big Pharma’s secretive dealings. — (Kaiser Health News)
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Welcome to the week in drug pricing news — no redactions.
1. Big Pharma: “We are going to put prices on our websites*”
*In the least clear way possible, and also, in pastels. — (STAT)
2. The Big Pharma tax windfall goes to…
Investors! Not lowering drug prices. — (FiercePharma)
3. Main-ahs look into wicked high prices
A packet of bills would give Maine options to lower drug prices for patients. Four of those Mainers testified this week in favor of reforms. — (Maine Public)
4. Constituent: “Hi, I’m not calling about the Mueller report.”
Freshman Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D, IL-14) is a former nurse who wants to use her health care expertise to lower drug prices. New GOPers like Josh Hawley (R-MO) are interested in lowering drug costs, too. — (The Daily Herald & Axios)
5. Let’s make a deal.
In his first 100 days in office, California Governor Gavin Newsom is making waves by outlining a plan to negotiate with drug corporations for lower prices. — (The San Francisco Chronicle)
We finally know what a black hole looks like. Next black hole to face the cameras: justification for drug company price hikes.
1. Patients win
There were two drug lobbyists for every Maryland state senator this session — and patients still won. A first-in-the-nation prescription drug affordability board with the authority to evaluate high-cost prescription drugs and set reasonable rates now awaits the governor’s signature. — (STAT)
2. Counts for nothing
In its latest bid to deflect mounting criticism of price gouging, drug giant Sanofi cut insulin prices only for the uninsured and patients paying cash hours before a Congressional hearing on rising insulin prices. Give them no credit. — (CBS)
3. Do you like apples?
Patient voices took center stage during testimony at a Massachusetts Statehouse hearing for sweeping drug pricing reforms in the commonwealth. How do you like them apples? — (Mass Live)
4. What a week in Washington
Over the last week, Washington took meaningful steps on legislation that would curb drug company price gouging, end abuse of citizen petitions, stop drug companies from abusing the patent system, demand more transparency from pharmacy benefit managers, and protect people who are insulin dependent.— (KTXS)
5. Walmart-ism
Walmart insulin has been pitched by drug executives as a solution for patients struggling to afford insulin. Find out why it’s not the answer. — (Vox)
We won’t spoil Game of Thrones, but we will spoil Big Pharma’s ongoing attempt to rob us all.
Welcome to the Week in Review in Prescription Drug Pricing!
1. Drowning in debt
A recent survey revealed the stunning amount of debt Americans are facing as a result of rising health care and prescription drug costs. — (NYT)
2. Pharma on the run
The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed two bills to close loopholes used by drug companies to keep prices high. — (AARP)
3. Call us
Scott Gottlieb’s last day of work as the FDA commish was Friday. He is going to Disney World before tackling drug prices in his next role at a conservative think tank. — (Washington Post)
4. Influence peddling in the commonwealth
As Massachusetts prepares to review a package of bills aimed at reducing drug costs, a river of Big Pharma money flows to maintain the status quo. — (FiercePharma)
