Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Mylan Filed Citizens' Petition In Attempt To Derail Teva's Generic EpiPen
Stat: How Mylan Tried To Keep Teva From Selling A Generic EpiPen
A new study finds that citizens’ petitions can “play a crucial role in delaying” generic drugs from becoming available — and cites Mylan Pharmaceuticals as a prominent example of companies whose reliance on such tactics is questionable. In particular, the study points to a petition that Mylan filed in early 2015 in an attempt to persuade the US Food and Drug Administration not to approve a rival to its EpiPen device for life-threatening allergic reactions, which was being developed by Teva Pharmaceuticals. (Silverman, 8/31)
ABC News: EpiPen Price Hike Prompts Some US Families To Buy The Drug In Canada
Some U.S. residents reeling from sticker shock of EpiPen prices have turned to Canada for a cheaper options. The cost of the EpiPen in the U.S. has risen from $100 to more than $600, according to medical literature and multiple pharmacies. In Canada, the cost for a single EpiPen is around $100 to $145, according to Tim Smith, general manager of the Canadian International Pharmaceutical Association (CIPA), a trade group that represents online pharmacies that dispense drugs to both U.S. and Canadian residents. U.S. residents can purchase the drug from online pharmacies as long as they have a prescription. (Mohney, 8/31)
Consumer Reports: Don't Order EpiPens From Canada
Faced with skyrocketing costs, several readers have told us they've ordered EpiPens from Canada as a way to save money. But we found that there are safer, cheaper options for getting these life-saving devices right here in the U.S.The biggest problems with trying to order EpiPens from Canada or any other country outside the U.S. is that you can't be sure of what you're getting. Most internet pharmacies claiming to be Canadian are not, says Carmen Catizone, the executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. “Frequently, they are fake storefronts selling unapproved drugs that are counterfeit or poorly made.” (Carr, 8/31)
Kaiser Health News: Mylan’s Generic EpiPen — A Price Break Or Marketing Maneuver?
Following weeks of criticism over dramatic price increases on its EpiPen, Mylan said Monday it will offer a generic version of the life-saving allergy treatment. The generic, which the company says will be identical to the brand product, will sell for $300 for a two-pack, which is half the cost of Mylan’s brand name EpiPens. The news did little to dim the ongoing outcry over the price, for which there are no other competitors on the market. Some called it a marketing ploy, while Robert Weissman, president of the consumer group Public Citizen, said the generic price was still too high, writing in the Huffington Post of “the weirdness of a drug company offering a generic version” of its own brand-name product. KHN offers answers to some key questions related to Mylan’s generic and breaks down what this development could mean for consumers and the marketplace. (Appleby, 9/1)
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times looks at why drug prices are so high —
Los Angeles Times: Here's Why Drug Prices Rise Even When There's Plenty Of Competition
At least eight pharmaceutical companies sell a decades-old drug that treats gallstones, but the competition has done little to keep its price down. Instead the price has skyrocketed. Two years ago, ursodiol’s wholesale price was as low as 45 cents a capsule. Then in May 2014, generic drug manufacturer Lannett Co. hiked its price to $5.10 per capsule, and one by one its competitors followed suit – with most charging nearly the same price. Experts say this is not how a competitive marketplace is supposed to work. (Petersen, 8/31)
