Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Drugmakers And Patient, Doctors' Groups Seem To Link Opposition To Medicare Payment Change
USA Today: Pharma Trade Group Helps Fund Patient Fight Against Medicare Project
Groups that advocate for patients' and doctors' interests are working in near lockstep with the big pharmaceutical companies that fund the groups to fight a proposed Medicare rule that could affect the companies' bottom lines, documents and interviews show. At stake is a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposal to test the effect of cutting what doctors get from Medicare for administering high-priced infusion drugs. (O'Donnell and Crescente, 7/11)
East Bay Times: Big Pharma's $70 Million Tops California Campaign Contributions
With Californians facing the busiest ballot in more than a decade, big spenders are poised to make it one of the most expensive election battles in state history -- already contributing $185 million to fight over everything from sex, drugs and guns to tobacco and taxes. The money is piling up on behalf of campaigns for 17 statewide ballot measures -- the most since March 2000. And when it comes to big backers, Big Pharma is far and away the towering force. (Seipel, 7/11)
In other pharmaceutical news —
The Wall Street Journal: Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical To Buy Sagent Pharmaceuticals In $736 Million Deal
Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co. said Monday it would acquire Sagent Pharmaceuticals Inc. for roughly $736 million, expanding the Japanese generic medicine manufacturer’s footprint in the U.S. The all-cash tender offer of $21.75 a share represents a 40% premium to Sagent’s closing price of $15.50 on Friday. (Jamerson, 7/11)
