Drugs

HHS Should Allow Some Rx Drug Imports: Senators

Four senators — Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), and Susan Collins (R-ME) — are calling on HHS secretary Xavier Becerra to support policies that would allow Americans to personally import certain prescription drugs from Canada. Their 7/26 letter follows a presidential executive order that the four say recognizes that prescription drug prices can be lowered through the safe importation of less expensive drugs from Canada.

“Americans, on average, pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world and are struggling to afford the medications they need,” the senators wrote. “Last year, one in three Americans saw their out-of-pocket medication costs increase, and that has real consequences. Nearly 30% of Americans report not taking their medicines as prescribed because of the cost.”

The four introduced the Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act in February to permit the personal importation of safe and effective prescription drugs from approved Canadian pharmacies. The letter urges HHS to support the legislation that the senators say would create savings for consumers and bring greater competition into the pharmaceutical market.

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome