Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Novartis Issued Misleading Statements About Duration Of Relationship With Michael Cohen, Emails Show
Stat: Novartis, Michael Cohen Contacts More Extensive Than Disclosed Earlier
The relationship between President Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, and Novartis was more extensive than the drug maker previously disclosed, and the company issued misleading statements about the relationship, according to a report issued by Senate Democrats on Friday. Dozens of emails and other documents revealed that the agreement between Cohen and Novartis was longer and more detailed than had been previously stated. Moreover, Novartis explicitly sought to hire Cohen to gain access to “key policymakers” and provided him with ideas for lowering drug costs, which later appeared in the Trump administration blueprint that was developed to address the issue. (Silverman, 7/13)
The Wall Street Journal: Novartis Played Down Ties To Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen, Report Says
The report also reveals Mr. Cohen’s advocacy for another pharmaceutical company, one the report says has ties to an investment firm associated with Viktor Vekselberg, a wealthy Russian businessman now under U.S. sanctions. The $1.2 million consulting deal with Novartis came to light in May. Then the Switzerland-based drug company said it hired Mr. Cohen for insight into how “the Trump administration might approach U.S. health-care policy matters,” but that executives realized from their first meeting with him in March 2017 that he wouldn’t be helpful and stopped engaging with him. (Palazzolo and Rothfeld, 7/13)
Politico Pro: Drugmaker's Ties With Michael Cohen More Extensive Than Detailed, Report Says
Dozens of emails and other documents obtained by the Democrats showed that Cohen worked with Novartis for six months longer than the company said in May, a period during which he pitched executives on investing in a pharmaceutical company backed by investment firm Columbus Nova. The firm is linked to Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who was sanctioned last month over Russia's meddling in the U.S. election. (Cancryn and Karlin-Smith, 7/13)
Stat: Novartis Needed A Consultant. The CEO's Friend Called Trump's Lawyer
Shortly after the 2016 election, Novartis chief executive Joe Jimenez was looking for a consultant to help understand how the Trump administration would approach health policy. So, when a friend suggested Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, Jimenez took the call, and personally suggested following up, according to a letter Novartis sent to senators in June and publicly released Friday. (Swetlitz, 7/13)
The Hill: Ex-Novartis CEO Sent Drug Pricing Proposal To Cohen
In an email dated June 5, 2017, ex-Novartis CEO Joe Jimenez sent Cohen an email with a document attached called "drug pricing initiatives." "Based on our conversation last week, I am forwarding you some ideas to lower drug costs in the US," Jimenez wrote. Cohen responded a few hours later: "Received and I will forward to you their suggestions." (Hellmann, 7/13)
