ICER dings Novo's new oral diabetes drug

The semaglutide pill is less effective than Jardiance and more expensive if priced similarly to the drug's injectable form, ICER said in a draft report.

By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 11, 2019

Medicare would negotiate prices for 250 drugs under House Democrats' plan

Speaker Nancy Pelosi's proposal also finds common ground with the president in pegging U.S. prices to an international index.

By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 10, 2019

Unblinded: Rebekah Gee's drug pricing experiment in Louisiana

Louisiana's health secretary negotiated a new payment model with Gilead for one of the poorest states in the country. Could it spread nationwide?

By Andrew Dunn • Aug. 28, 2019

Multiple sclerosis drug costs skyrocketed for Medicare and patients, study finds

Out-of-pocket spending on MS medications increased by more than 600% in the decade from 2006 to 2016, while the typical list price quadrupled.

By Andrew Dunn • Aug. 27, 2019

Congress is going after drug prices. Pharma CEOs aren't panicking, yet

A Senate Finance bill could emerge as the most palatable option for an industry seeking to limit losses in an election cycle already targeting pricing as an issue.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 2, 2019

Medicines Co. awaits its date with destiny

After slimming down to focus on one big R&D bet, the company needs inclisiran to match or outperform on-market PCSK9 drugs Repatha and Praluent.

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 1, 2019

Teva, Endo among generics paying $70M in California pay-for-delay settlement

The state accused Teva, Endo and Japan-based Teikoku of anticompetitive practices on two drugs, which it said drove healthcare costs higher.

By Jacob Bell • July 29, 2019

Senate advances drug pricing bill, setting up September vote

PhRMA's CEO, along with a number of drugmaker executives, met with President Trump this week to lay out their opposition to the bill. 

By Jonathan Gardner • July 26, 2019

Senate committee targets drug price increases with broad bill

Legislation is newly in focus after the White House dropped a bid to ban certain Medicare rebates, and saw another pricing plan defeated in court.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 23, 2019

Opioid and price fixing legal liabilities mount for generic companies

Potential liabilities for Teva, Mylan, Amneal and Endo could reach as high as $14.7 billion, per estimates from SVB Leerink.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 22, 2019

Advocacy group pledges six-figure ad buy to support Trump drug price plan

Patients for Affordable Drugs relaunched a campaign which supports the Trump administration's proposed International Pricing Index for certain drugs.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 17, 2019

As Trump's drug pricing plan falters, Dem challengers pitch ideas for 2020

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris both unveiled this week their plans to confront the drug industry.

By Andrew Dunn • July 16, 2019

White House pulls drug rebate rule to relief of payers

Withdrawal of the rule, which drugmakers supported, puts greater focus on the administration's plans for an international price index for certain drugs.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 11, 2019

In win for pharma, Trump TV drug price rule struck down

The federal district court sided with drugmakers, which argued the government overstepped its authority in forcing price transparency in advertisements.

By Jonathan Gardner • July 9, 2019

Pharma stocks slide as industry mulls Trump drug price action

A federal court ruling blocking the Trump administration's rule requiring drugmakers list prices in TV ads, however, offered some reprieve. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated July 9, 2019

Aiming for price transparency, Civica Rx hits snag with bundled payments

The payment model, often opaque on specific drug costs, affects many of the medicines the hospital-led group is targeting, according to its commercial chief.

By Jacob Bell • June 27, 2019

CVS, government urge federal judge to bless settlement pact

The American Medical Association, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and consumer groups argued the Justice Department's settlement of CVS' $69 billion buy of Aetna threatens the prescription drug plan market.

By Dana Elfin • June 24, 2019

Merck is on top. Investors worry there's only one way to go.

Products like Keytruda and Gardasil have propelled the pharma to new heights. But at its first investor day in five years, concerns about maintaining that success crept through.

By Jacob Bell • June 21, 2019

From BIO meeting, Merck CEO backs capitalism, rebuts industry's critics

"Our business has a noble purpose, but the capital markets don't go to church on Sunday, and they don't go to synagogue on Saturday," said Ken Frazier. 

By Andrew Dunn • June 5, 2019

Seniors' out-of-pocket spending on cancer drugs climbs higher

Despite efforts to limit Medicare Part D beneficiaries' financial exposure to high-cost drugs, price increases have wiped out some of the expected savings.

By Samantha Liss • May 29, 2019

Pay-for-delay deals disappearing, FTC says

The federal agency conceded branded and generic makers may be striking non-monetary deals that impede price competition on off-patent drugs.

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated May 24, 2019

Could Novartis' gene therapy have more than one price?

Indication-based pricing may be possible for less severe patients, who would receive a smaller dose. Lower manufacturing costs would lessen the blow to Novartis too.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 23, 2019

ICER sees current DMD therapies as too pricey, but notes data limitations

Though evidence supporting Sarepta's eteplirsen and golodirsen and PTC's deflazacort "remains sparse," ICER expects all three drugs wouldn't hit certain cost-effectiveness thresholds.

By Jacob Bell • May 23, 2019

ICER seeks to make drug price research more accessible

Pharmas and payers use ICER's work to inform their approach on pricing and coverage, making the group a key voice in the debate over drug value.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 20, 2019

Medicare decides against tighter management of HIV drugs

A finalized regulation codifies step therapy and prior authorization practices in five of the Medicare Part D "protected" drug classes, but spares HIV.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 17, 2019