Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Higher Copays For Chemo Pills Than IV Treatments Are Contentious Issue Between Insurers, Drugmakers
Stat: Inside The Overlooked Battle Between Drug Makers And Insurers Over Chemotherapy
In a high-stakes battle between drug makers and insurers, last week it was the drug makers who got a lift, on a little-noticed issue and in an unusual place: Arkansas. The governor there signed legislation to make Arkansas the 43rd state since 2008 to enact so-called oral parity laws, which prohibit certain private insurers from charging cancer patients more in copays if they take chemo in pill form instead of getting it infused into their veins. Patient groups are pushing similar legislative campaigns in North Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, and at the federal level. (Robbins, 3/31)
The Washington Post: Quest For New Antibiotics Gets First Major Funding From Global Partnership
A major global partnership aimed at fighting superbugs announced Thursday that it is investing up to $48 million in research projects, including potentially the first new classes of antibiotics in decades, to target the deadliest drug-resistant bacteria. The investments announced by CARB-X include $24 million in immediate funding for 11 companies. The firms can receive up to $24 million in additional payments over three years if they meet specific milestones. (Sun, 3/30)
Stat: Novartis Loses Battle With The Feds Over Documents For 80,000 ‘Sham’ Events
After a year-long battle, a federal judge ordered Novartis to turn over to the Department Justice documents containing details of allegedly 79,200 “sham” speaking events the drug maker used to encourage doctors to prescribe several blood pressure medicines. The decision stems from a whistleblower lawsuit, which was initially filed six years ago by a former Novartis sales rep, contending the drug maker violated federal anti-kickback laws for nearly a decade. The Justice Department later joined the lawsuit, which alleged Novartis paid bribes to boost prescriptions and, as a result, caused federal health care programs to overpay for medicines. (Silverman, 3/30)
The Wall Street Journal: Glaxo’s New CEO Is A Steady Hand In Pharmaceuticals’ Rolling Seas
GlaxoSmithKline PLC’s outgoing chief executive bet big that bulking up on toothpaste, shampoo, over-the-counter painkillers and other health-related consumer goods would help anchor its risk-laden pharmaceuticals business. Now it falls to Emma Walmsley, former head of the company’s consumer health division, to prove him right, or chart a fresh course. She replaces CEO Andrew Witty on Saturday. (Roland, 3/31)
