Drugmakers open new year with price increases on dozens of medicines

Allergan, Biogen and Bristol-Myers were among the companies that raised list prices, suggesting criticism hasn't halted a return to "business as normal" for the industry.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 2, 2019

Gene therapy could be cost effective in SMA, but not at $4M

A report from ICER found Novartis' experimental Zolgensma could be more cost-effective than Biogen's Spinraza in treating spinal muscular atrophy.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 21, 2018

Alnylam CEO talks politics, gene therapy and not becoming Pfizer

John Maraganore, who also serves as chair of BIO, spoke with BioPharma Dive in a wide-ranging interview on some of the industry's most pressing issues.

By Andrew Dunn • Dec. 14, 2018

Hospital docs weigh in on CAR-T reimbursement: 'It's very complicated'

Looming over clinical victories seen at ASH was a problematic question: How exactly will health systems pay for these powerful yet pricey therapies?

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 5, 2018

Bipartisan bill introduced in Senate to penalize pharma Medicaid gaming

The incoming leaders of the Senate Finance Committee want to set monetary penalties for drugmakers that misclassify products within Medicaid.

By Andrew Dunn • Dec. 5, 2018

Merck increased list prices on Keytruda, Gardasil in November

The pharmaceutical giant made a pricing pledge this summer. A company spokesperson contended these price hikes are "fully consistent" with the plan.

By Andrew Dunn • Nov. 29, 2018

Teva launches EpiPen generic at same price as Mylan's version

The copycat's entry could be a threat to Mylan, though limited supply may hamper the commercial impact. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • Nov. 28, 2018

CMS aims to tackle drug costs by giving payers more bargaining power

Under the agency's proposal, Part D plans would be allowed to exclude protected drugs from their formularies in certain instances. 

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 27, 2018

Luxturna cleared for sale in Europe, but payer support uncertain

Spark and commercialization partner Novartis now face the battle of getting the pricey gene therapy covered in Europe. 

By Suzanne Elvidge • Nov. 26, 2018

Kaleo under fire for price hikes on naloxone treatment

Kaleo raised its price for Evzio from $575 to $4,100 in fewer than three years. Now, the company's tactics are the focus of a new Senate report and a "60 Minutes" segment.

By Andrew Dunn • Nov. 19, 2018

Pfizer tests Trump with plans to hike prices on 41 drugs

Last month, Pfizer CEO Ian Read indicated the pharma would soon return to "business as normal" after a rare reversal on price hikes made in July. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 16, 2018

7 drugs that raised eyebrows in Q3

Biosimilars began to bite into blockbuster franchises, while newer products propped up sales at Sanofi, Regeneron and GSK​.

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 15, 2018

ICER finalizes report finding asthma biologics too pricey

After taking comments from the drugmakers into consideration, ICER's main takeaway was unchanged: these drugs are overly expensive.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Nov. 15, 2018

Express Scripts plans 'Flex' formulary focused on authorized generics

Gilead’s generic versions of its own hepatitis C treatments Epclusa and Harvoni are first on the list for the new formulary​, which starts Jan. 1.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 14, 2018

Specialty drugs drive Rx spending increase, Blue Cross says

Insurers under the Blues' umbrella, which accounts for dozens of independently run payers, spent about $100 billion on prescription drugs in 2017.

By Andrew Dunn • Nov. 13, 2018

UK calls Vertex on contentious Orkambi negotiations

A key committee has asked for more information from Vertex on its case for the cystic fibrosis drug, including the price offered to NHS.

By Suzanne Elvidge • Nov. 12, 2018

UK's NICE gives early no to expanded use of AstraZeneca's Lynparza

In a draft decision, a committee for the U.K.'s cost watchdog recommended not providing coverage for expanded use of the PARP inhibitor in ovarian cancer.

By Andrew Dunn • Nov. 9, 2018

Earnings reveal pharma's mixed feelings on Trump drug pricing proposal

A plan that would shake up how CMS pays for Medicare Part B drugs could leave the bottom lines of major players like Roche, Amgen and Bristol-Myers exposed, according to analysts.​

By Jacob Bell • Nov. 7, 2018

5 election takeaways for pharma

Democrats took back the House on Tuesday, raising the prospect of more scrutiny on drug pricing. Experts, however, don't expect a major deal with President Trump.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 7, 2018

Come January, will pharma pricing pledges hold?

Pfizer CEO Ian Read indicated this week that the pharma, which rolled back some price hikes in July, would return to "business as normal" next year. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Oct. 31, 2018

Amgen cuts US Repatha price 60% amid market pressure

While effective, the cholesterol drug's $14,520 list price has been a tough pill to swallow for payers. Now, Amgen will cut the price to $5,850.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Jacob Bell • Updated Oct. 24, 2018

DTC's big issues: Trump, cancer drugs and the First Amendment

Direct-to-consumer drug advertising, while always controversial, looks set to become a battleground yet again.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Jacob Bell , Andrew Dunn • Oct. 24, 2018

Minnesota takes aim at Sanofi, Novo, Lilly for insulin prices

A lawsuit filed Tuesday claims that, rather than protect patient access, the companies jacked up insulin prices in order to offer greater rebates to PBMs.

By Jacob Bell • Oct. 17, 2018

J&J sees 'evolution in pricing, not a revolution' in 2019

"I think we just need to be careful; things such as list price alone [are] not the full extent of the information," said J&J's pharma unit chief on a Tuesday call.

By Jacob Bell • Oct. 16, 2018

5 questions on the Trump admin's bid to mandate prices in drug ads

Pharma, which spends billions each year to advertise its products on television, is expected to fiercely oppose the proposal.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Andrew Dunn • Oct. 16, 2018