Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Perspectives: Biologics Are Expensive Because They're Tricky To Make. But Don't Write Off Generic Versions Of Them Yet.
The Wall Street Journal: Don’t Give Up On Biosimilars—Congress Can Give Them A Boost
Biologic drugs are one of this century’s great medical triumphs. They’ve reshaped the treatment of diverse and debilitating diseases from cancer to multiple sclerosis to heart attacks.They’re also one of the fastest-growing segments of drug spending. Medicare’s total tab for biologics has increased 9.5% a year since 2009, to about $20 billion in 2016. Across the entire market, spending on biologics totaled $125.5 billion in 2018, up 50% since 2014. (Scott Gottlieb, 8/25)
The Wall Street Journal: Time To Throw In The Towel On Biosimilars
A major reason drugs are even mildly affordable in the U.S. is that cheap generic copies can eventually flood the market. But first the Food and Drug Administration grants new drugs a few years of monopoly “exclusivity.” For decades this high-price-before-low-price model has fueled astounding pharmaceutical innovation while also providing long-term access to important treatments.But today this model is in trouble. An entire class of high-priced medicines, called biologics, may never face strong competition from copycats. These drugs—which are used for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses—accounted for 37% of all spending on drugs in 2017 even though they were only 2% of all medicines dispensed. While chemical drugs can be easily mimicked by generic drugs, biologic drugs are made in genetically engineered cells, a process that cannot be perfectly copied. (Peter B. Bach and Mark Trusheim, 8/21)
CNN: Lawmakers Want To Lower Drug Prices. Their Plan Would End Up Harming Patients
Chronic disease is the leading cause of disability and death in the United States. Six in 10 US adults live with at least one chronic condition. And 4 in 10 adults battle two or more. It's also a major driver of health care spending, accounting for 90 cents of every dollar spent. Unfortunately, new efforts on Capitol Hill could make matters worse. Some lawmakers are pushing to weaken vital intellectual property protections for new medicines that improve health, reduce side effects and help patients take their medicines as prescribed. (Randall Rutta, 8/22)
Washington Times: Why Price Controls On Medicare Part D Are A Bad Prescription
Republicans, including many so-called free market conservatives, sometimes fall back into a nasty habit of doing the Democrats’ leg work for them. Such is the case with recent Senate legislation that would impose an inflationary cap or penalty on prescription drugs as part of Medicare Part D. By all means, the rising cost of prescription drugs in the United States is a major problem afflicting millions of Americans who deserve better. (Adam Brandon, 8/27)
Nashville Tennessean: Tennesseans Need Relief From Rx Greed
Prescription drugs don’t work if they're not affordable. That’s why the Senate needs to pass the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act when they return from August recess. It’s time. We urge senators like Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to back this vital legislation, which passed the Senate Finance Committee in July with strong bipartisan support. (Rebecca B. Kelly, 8/27)
The Hill: Republicans Face Critical Test Of Integrity On Drug Price Controls
New additions to Congress like Republican Senators Josh Hawley and Rick Scott are advocating for socialist style price controls on medicine. It is shocking since they were fierce critics of government involvement in health care just a few short months ago. When Hawley ran for office, he campaigned on a platform of lower drug prices and health care freedom. He penned an editorial column last year calling on Congress to “eliminate the one size fits all dictates from Washington.” Now Hawley is endorsing the government takeover of medicine. Why the 180 degree turn here? (Adam Brandon, 8/22)
Sacramento Bee: Cancer Treatments In Pill Form Should Be Covered The Same
More effective, less debilitating and easier to administer therapies are now available for many cancers.Many of these new therapies are easier to administer because they come in pill form rather than being administered intravenously or injected in liquid form, an enormously important innovation for both patients and healthcare providers. Many insurance plans, however, refuse to cover oral cancer treatments at the same rate as intravenous or injected cancer treatments. (Samantha Guild, 8/23)
The Hill: When A Chronic Illness Is Political — It Can Kill
As a 51-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease, I think a lot about medications. A couple of months ago, I began taking a new one called a dopamine agonist, which sells under the brand name Neupro. We are taking it slowly, but I think I’m in love. Agonists work by mimicking dopamine, a neurotransmitter that affects movement and mood. (Allan Hugh Cole, 8/26)
