Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Valeant Pharmaceuticals Under Federal Investigation For Drug Pricing Practices
The New York Times: Valeant Under Investigation For Its Drug Pricing Practices
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, which has come under fire for aggressively increasing the prices of its drugs, said late Wednesday that it had received two federal subpoenas related to its pricing, distribution and patient support practices. The subpoenas were issued by the United States attorney’s offices in Manhattan and Massachusetts. (Pollack, 10/14)
The Wall Street Journal: Valeant Pharmaceuticals Under Investigation By Federal Prosecutors
Valeant, which received the subpoenas recently, says they mostly requested information about its programs to help patients pay for the company’s drugs. “The company is reviewing the subpoenas and intends to cooperate with the investigations,” Valeant said in a statement. (Rockoff, 10/15)
Bloomberg: Decoding The Price Of Cancer
For the first time, a consortium of top U.S. cancer hospitals will provide patients with guidance about the cost of drugs used in their treatment, helping address a concern for many people undergoing a major medical event - what the financial repercussions of their condition are. The information will supplement summaries that the group, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), has provided for 20 years on the effectiveness, side effects, and evidence backing the therapies. (Cortez, 10/15)
The Wall Street Journal: Theranos Has Struggled With Blood Tests
On Theranos Inc.’s website, company founder Elizabeth Holmes holds up a tiny vial to show how the startup’s “breakthrough advancements have made it possible to quickly process the full range of laboratory tests from a few drops of blood.” The company offers more than 240 tests, ranging from cholesterol to cancer. It claims its technology can work with just a finger prick. Investors have poured more than $400 million into Theranos, valuing it at $9 billion and her majority stake at more than half that. ... But Theranos has struggled behind the scenes to turn the excitement over its technology into reality. (Carreyrou, 10/15)
The Washington Post: FDA Was ‘Lax’ And Kowtowed To Drugmaker In Review Of Controversial Blood Thinner, Watchdog Says
The Food and Drug Administration was “lax” and “permissive” in its review of a blood-thinning drug designed to prevent strokes and clots in patients with a heart condition affecting millions of Americans, a watchdog group said Thursday. (Rein, 10/15)
