Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Drugmakers Go On Offense With Ad Campaign, Saying Pricey Cures Save Money In Long Run
The pharmaceutical industry is launching an ad campaign to promote cost savings amid criticism for high drug prices. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), a top lobbying group for drug companies, is launching a “mid-seven figure” ad buy across the country to argue that drugs can save the health system money in the long run by curing diseases. (Sullivan, 9/6)
A top pharmaceutical lobbying group is launching an ad campaign to defend drugmakers that have been under fire for their pricing practices. “We’re under pressure and scrutiny like never before,” said Jim Greenwood, chief executive officer of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. The campaign, called “Innovation Saves,” says new drugs can save both lives and costs to the health-care system. BIO is spending “low- to mid-seven digits” on the ads, according Greenwood, or about $1 million to $5 million. (Chen, 9/6)
Mylan says middlemen and suppliers have forced them to jack-up the prices on EpiPens by hundreds of dollars, but two industry insiders say the company pays no more than $30 per device. (Popken, 9/6)
