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

Explore the Trendline➔

Drug pricing

President Trump’s efforts to install a most-favored nation pricing policy present new risks for an industry already adjusting to Medicare price negotiations.

By BioPharma Dive staff

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

The NASH dash runs into some early hurdles

In a trio of articles, BioPharma Dive explored the key problems the NASH field faces and what's being done to solve them.

By Jacob Bell • May 17, 2019

Gilead CEO pressured on PrEP pricing at House hearing

Critics of Gilead contend it had little to do with the research behind Truvada's use as a preventive therapy — a charge CEO Daniel O'Day rebutted Thursday.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 17, 2019

Generics price-fixing lawsuit focuses on Teva's role as catalyst

A ranking system of competitors' willingness to follow price increases was one piece of evidence offered by 44 state attorneys general in a sweeping lawsuit. 

By Jonathan Gardner • May 13, 2019

Gilead donates Truvada for PrEP to CDC, with mixed reactions

While the donation will make the preventive treatment available to uninsured Americans, it doesn't lower the cost for others.

By Andrew Dunn • May 10, 2019

Drugmakers will soon be required to disclose prices in TV ads

Forcing pharma's hand, the Trump administration finalized a proposal requiring list prices in DTC advertising, inviting a possible legal challenge from industry.

By Ned Pagliarulo • May 8, 2019

Rebate ban not a magic balm, federal budget forecasters say

The Trump administration plan to eliminate certain rebates would increase federal spending by $177 billion over a decade, the CBO found.

By Jonathan Gardner • May 3, 2019

Pfizer prospects for tafamidis market

The rare disease tafamidis treats is underdiagnosed, Pfizer says, so increasing awareness will be essential. Payers, meanwhile, may seek outcomes-based contracts.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 30, 2019

At gene therapy meeting, insurance execs grapple with expected cost

As more gene therapies move closer to market, questions around pricing and reimbursement have taken on greater urgency for regulators, payers and drugmakers.

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 30, 2019

AbbVie wins hep C contract with Washington state in latest 'Netflix' deal

Louisiana inked a similar agreement last month with a Gilead subsidiary, pioneering a model that aims to boost access while containing drug costs.

By Andrew Dunn • Updated April 26, 2019

Medicare proposes raising CAR-T pay, but reimbursement solution years away

As new technologies nip at CAR-T's heels, CMS could take three years to gin up a separate reimbursement category for Novartis' Kymriah and Gilead's Yescarta.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 24, 2019

Competition and donut hole discount takes toll on Xarelto sales

Johnson & Johnson, which sells Xarelto in the U.S., saw first quarter sales for the anticoagulant decline 6% despite pricing and prescription increases.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 23, 2019

J&J drugs sales outperform despite generic hit

Kicking off first quarter earnings for the industry, J&J managed to post better-than-expected pharma results despite falling Zytiga sales in the U.S.

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 16, 2019

Its ambitions restrained, Amgen sets modest Evenity price

The bone-building osteoporosis drug will carry a list price of $21,900 for a full course of treatment, a discount to competitors from Eli Lilly and Radius.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 16, 2019

Pharmacy's 'middlemen' counter pharma's campaign to shift the price blame

Banning rebates will not be a silver bullet leading to cost control, executives from PBMs argued in front of the Senate Finance Committee. 

By Jonathan Gardner • April 9, 2019

Copay assistance snares 3 drug companies in Medicare kickback charges

Alexion, Jazz and Lundbeck will pay $123 million to settle charges they used patient assistance foundations to boost prescriptions.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 5, 2019

What to look for after Zolgensma's launch

An ICER report provides clues on how payers will hedge their reimbursement bets for a likely million-dollar neuromuscular-disease treatment.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 4, 2019