Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
New Group Of Cholesterol Drugs Adds To Drug-Pricing Discussion
The Philadelphia Inquirer: New Drugs For Ultra High Cholesterol Cause Pricing Debate
The debate about the appropriate price for medicine now includes a new group of drugs designed to treat ultra high cholesterol, called PCSK-9 inhibitors. Praluent - made by Regeneron and distributed by its partner Sanofi - is the first of the group to hit the market. It is meant to lower the LDL - "bad" cholesterol - of patients with hypercholesterolemia. Amgen is working on a similar drug that might be approved soon. (Sell, 8/11)
In other FDA news, Kim Kardashian's social media posts about a morning-sickness treatment may be violating federal drug-promotion rules -
The Associated Press: FDA Issues Warning Over Kim Kardashian's Drug Promotions
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is no stranger to criticism, having spent the better part of the last decade in the public eye. But she’s probably never faced negative publicity like this before: The Food and Drug Administration says Kardashian’s social media posts violate federal drug-promotion rules. Kardashian recently began promoting a prescription pill to treat morning sickness through her social media accounts. Such endorsement deals are relatively common for celebrities. In posts to Instagram and Facebook earlier this month Kardashian talks about her struggles with nausea due to pregnancy. (Perrone, 8/11)
