Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Obscure 'Orphan Drug Act' Could Lead To Price Hikes For Older Drugs
A showdown between two companies fighting over a drug for a rare neuromuscular disease powerfully illustrates the growing tension in the United States over the rising prices of drugs. The issue has drawn increased scrutiny from policy makers and prompted rising public outrage, much of it directed at Martin Shkreli, who has become a symbol for pharmaceutical price gouging. Turing Pharmaceuticals, the company he formerly headed, and others have been harshly criticized for abruptly raising the prices of medicines after acquiring them — without having taken the risks involved in research and development. (Tavernise, 12/22)
The price of drugs is making headlines this year. But aggressive pricing tactics are not new — and those affected most are the poorest in developing countries, says Judit Rius Sanjuan, an international law specialist and U.S. manager and legal policy adviser for Doctors Without Borders' Access Campaign. (Shaikh-Lesko, 12/23)
Meanwhile in Ohio —
Signatures have been submitted in an effort aimed at keeping Ohio agencies and publicly-funded entities from buying prescription drugs at prices higher than what the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pays. Ohioans for Fair Drug Prices and AIDS Healthcare Foundation group say more than 171,000 signatures were turned in Tuesday in their campaign to force a vote on the Ohio Drug Price Relief Act. (12/23)
And the Martin Shkreli arrest continues to make waves across the pharmaceutical industry —
One of the biotech companies run by Martin Shkreli, the reviled drug price-gouger charged with securities fraud last week, was informed Wednesday that its stock will be delisted by Nasdaq because of Shkreli's arrest and other issues. Meanwhile, KaloBios Pharmaceuticals Inc. also is dealing with the abrupt resignation of its accounting firm and a void left by its firing of Shkreli. (12/23)
Tampa's Moffitt Cancer Center is suspending a clinical trial sponsored by KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, a California biotechnology company that was run by entrepreneur Martin Shkreli until his arrest last week on fraud charges. The trial, which sought to develop a new treatment for leukemia, hadn't started yet, Moffitt spokesman Steven Blanchard said Tuesday. (McGrory, 12/23)
