Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Could This Century-Old Law Be Used To Curb Drug Prices? Democrats Think So
Stat: Lawmakers Urge HHS To Sidestep Patents On Hepatitis C Drugs
In a bid to address the high cost of prescription drugs, a group of congressional Democrats is urging federal officials to tap a little-known 1910 law that would allow the government to sidestep patents on hepatitis C medicines. The law resembles eminent domain: the Department of Health and Human Services could use a patented invention without permission, and a drug maker could demand a “reasonable” compensation — such as royalties — but cannot stop the government from taking such a step. (Silverman, 2/21)
The Hill: Health Chief Exploring More Actions On High Drug Prices
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar says his department is working on additional proposals aimed at high drug prices, including some that could be enacted without congressional action. In an interview with WTHR in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Azar pointed to the proposals to Congress on drug pricing that the administration made in its budget this month, but also said the department is working on other proposals that might not need congressional approval. (Sullivan, 2/21)
13 WTHR Indianapolis: Interview: Health And Human Services Secretary Discusses Insurance Plan Options
Eyewitness News anchor Scott Swan interviewed Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar Tuesday. Azar is a former executive at Eli Lilly. (Swan, 2/20)
And in other pharmaceutical news —
Stat: Psychiatry Journal Is Urged To Retract Controversial Celexa Study Over Newly Disclosed Details
Agroup of researchers wants the American Journal of Psychiatry to retract a study published in 2004 after newly unsealed documents suggest that Forest Laboratories, the company that sold the medicine that was the subject of the study, misled regulators about key details. As reported previously, the documents indicate the drug maker obscured key data demonstrating its Celexa antidepressant was not effective in children. Instead, the company portrayed the results as positive in materials submitted to regulators in hopes of winning approval for pediatric use. (Silverman, 2/21)
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Inherited Eye Disease Sees First FDA-Approved Gene Therapy In Luxturna
Luxturna, developed by Spark Therapeutics of Philadelphia, is a historic breakthrough as the first FDA-approved gene therapy for a genetic disease, and the first and only treatment for an inherited retinal disease, said John Furey, Spark's chief operating officer. ...Spark's breakthrough is also a win for champions of orphan diseases, illnesses that affects fewer than 200,000 people nationwide. (Washington, 2/22)
Arizona Republic: Audit: Arizona Fails To Collect $36.7 Million In Drug Rebates
Arizona has failed to collect up to $36.7 million in rebates from prescription drug manufacturers since 2010 and may need to pay the federal government a portion of that amount, according to a new federal audit. Arizona and other state Medicaid programs are expected to collect rebates for expensive brand-name prescription drugs that taxpayers fund on behalf of eligible residents. (Alltucker, 2/21)
Stat: Months After Sexual Harassment Scandal, OrbiMed’s Banking Another Billion
Months after being rocked by sexual harassment allegations, biotech’s largest investment fund is in process of raising $1 billion from investors, its largest offering to date, while the founder who was at the center of the controversy remains a partner at the firm. Legendary biotech financier Sam Isaly said late last year that he would retire following publication of a STAT investigation in which six former OrbiMed employees said he regularly sexually harassed the firm’s female employees, particularly executive assistants. (Garde, 2/22)
