Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Faced With Competition From Generics, Pharma Companies Shift Tack To Marketing Pricey Drugs
The Wall Street Journal: New Drug Ads Tout Serious Conditions, Costly Treatments
TV audiences have grown accustomed to ads for treatments for erectile dysfunction, overactive bladder and a host of common or “lifestyle” conditions. But viewers of the Jan. 31 Fox broadcast of “Grease Live” caught a glimpse of the industry’s newest marketing tack: a clip promoting a lung-cancer drug. The spot is one of several hitting the airwaves for drugs treating serious, life-threatening conditions or those with relatively small patient populations—often expensive medicines prescribed by specialist doctors. For example, Opdivo costs about $12,500 a month for the average U.S. patient. (Loftus, 2/16)
The Wall Street Journal: Couple To Give $7.2 Million Toward Efforts To Lower Drug Prices
A Houston-based philanthropist couple is adding their financial firepower to efforts to make prescription drugs more affordable in the U.S. The Laura and John Arnold Foundation will provide a total of $7.2 million to four organizations to fund research and pilot projects aimed at reining in drug costs and lowering financial barriers for patients, according to the foundation. (Loftus, 2/16)
