Drugs

Many Drug Firms Up Prices During Pandemic: Analysis

Drug companies have made more than 800 price increases this year and adjusted the cost of 42 medicines up by an average of 3.3% so far this month, according to GoodRx as reported online by Politico. “While the size of that increase is not out of line with past years,” the article says, “the number of branded drugs seeing hikes this month was higher than last year.”

The report says White House chief of staff Mark Meadows indicated the president could issue an executive order soon that would include measures aimed at high prescription drug costs.

The article notes that some of the administration’s previous efforts to control drug costs have been rejected by the courts or have been stalled in response to consumer or political complaints.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) told Politico the GoodRx data presents a false narrative “by focusing solely on list prices and ignoring the dynamics of the biopharmaceutical market that control medicine spending.” PhRMA spokesperson Katie Koziara said research from health data company IQVIA shows that overall price increases are below annual inflation.

“However, it often doesn’t feel that way for patients,” she said. “We need to fix the healthcare system so it works better for patients by making sure rebates and discounts are shared with patients at the pharmacy counter and making insurance work like insurance again.”

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