Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Alleging Anti-Competitive Actions, Pharmacies File Suit Against Supplier Of Radiology Medicines
Stat: Nuclear Pharmacies Sue Radiology Medicine Supplier Over 'Illegal Monopoly'
The largest association of independent nuclear pharmacies in the U.S. has filed a lawsuit accusing Jubilant DraxImage, a big supplier of radiology medicines, with a range of anticompetitive practices that have resulted in dramatically higher prices that have allegedly hurt patient care. At issue are a series of actions that Jubilant has taken over the past few years and that also prompted the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to open an investigation last year. (Silverman, 8/15)
Stat: Roche Drug Approval Offers A Glimpse At The Future Of Cancer Treatment
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved Roche’s cancer drug Rozlytrek for patients with any kind of tumor that tests positive for one kind of genetic alteration, known as NTRK, and for non-small cell lung cancer that tests positive for another genetic alteration, ROS1. It’s the third time that the FDA has approved a cancer drug not based on where the tumor showed up in the body but on its genetic makeup. It’s part of an emerging picture of the future of cancer treatment — one that has been long imagined. (Herper, 8/15)
Modern Healthcare: Anesthesia Associates Sues Trinity Health For Trying To Hire Away Anesthesia Providers
Anesthesia Associates of Ann Arbor PLLC, the largest anesthesiology and pain-management medical group in Michigan, has sued Trinity Health Michigan in Washtenaw County Circuit Court over an allegation the 13-hospital health system improperly tried to hire away some of its providers. The lawsuit contends Trinity has "chosen to ignore (Anesthesia Associates') valid non-competes and its own non-solicitation obligations and has recently attempted to recruit our certified registered nurse anesthetists," according to a statement to Crain's from Anesthesia Associates, also known as A4. (Greene, 8/15)
