Texas AG sues makers of Tylenol over hiding alleged links to autism. This is certainly going to be a case to watch, and already it feels like it’s going to be a wild ride. The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, is bringing the lawsuit, and the core of the issue revolves around an alleged connection between Tylenol and autism. It’s important to remember that this legal action comes with a significant burden of proof. The state, and in particular Paxton, will have to provide solid evidence to convince a judge that this link actually exists and that the makers of Tylenol deliberately hid information about it.… Continue reading
China has eliminated its 30% import duty on Indian pharmaceutical products, allowing for duty-free exports. This strategic move comes in the wake of the US imposing a 100% tariff on pharma imports, offering Indian companies an alternative market. This change is expected to significantly boost Indian pharma exports, potentially increasing them by billions of dollars while providing Indian companies a level playing field in China’s large healthcare market. Trade analysts anticipate this will balance trade relations and strengthen India’s global healthcare supply chain.
Read More
President Trump announced an executive order aiming to slash US prescription drug prices by 30-80%, potentially impacting global markets. This aggressive move involves pressuring European countries to increase their drug prices and threatening trade sanctions against uncooperative nations. The order seeks to lower prices to global minimums, forcing pharmaceutical companies to significantly reduce their profits and potentially reducing investment in research and development. This action is facing opposition from the pharmaceutical industry and analysts question its feasibility.
Read More
President Trump’s latest executive order, aiming to align U.S. prescription drug prices with those of other developed nations, mirrors a previously blocked attempt and faces similar legal challenges. Senators Sanders and Wyden, along with Representative Khanna, argue that legislative action, rather than unilateral executive orders, is the only viable path to meaningful price reform. They cite the likelihood of pharmaceutical industry legal challenges and propose bipartisan legislation to achieve comparable drug pricing. This approach contrasts with Trump’s past actions, including delaying Medicare price negotiations.
Read More
Trump’s recent executive order calling for broad drug price cuts has sparked a flurry of reactions, ranging from cautious optimism to outright skepticism. The order promises to give drugmakers price targets within the next thirty days, threatening further action if “significant progress” isn’t made within six months. This sounds decisive, yet history suggests a pattern of similar pronouncements followed by inaction.
The timing of this executive order is particularly intriguing. It comes on the heels of the removal of a Biden-era policy that capped insulin prices at $30, a move that effectively raised prices for many patients. Now, the same administration is presenting this new initiative as a solution, creating a sense of déjà vu for those who remember similar, ultimately fruitless, attempts during Trump’s first term.… Continue reading
In response to a national security investigation launched April 1st, President Trump plans to announce pharmaceutical tariffs within the next two weeks. These tariffs aim to incentivize the repatriation of pharmaceutical production to the United States, significantly impacting countries like Britain and Ireland, which boast large pharmaceutical trade surpluses with the U.S. The impending tariffs are particularly concerning for major UK-based pharmaceutical companies like GSK and AstraZeneca, who have already engaged in intense lobbying efforts to mitigate potential losses. While a previous 10% tariff on most imports was temporarily averted for pharmaceuticals, this new announcement suggests a more aggressive protectionist strategy.
Read More
Drugmakers are set to raise prices on over 250 medications in the US starting January 1st. This news has unsurprisingly sparked widespread outrage and frustration, especially given the timing – just as many are facing economic challenges. The increases, it’s important to note, apply to list prices. These are the prices before rebates and discounts are factored in, meaning pharmacy benefit managers and other intermediaries will likely still receive significant concessions while consumers bear the brunt of the increase.
This raises immediate questions about fairness and accessibility. Many have voiced concerns that those who rely on these medications for chronic or rare conditions will struggle to afford the higher costs, potentially facing life-altering consequences.… Continue reading
Giant companies, specifically pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), received secret payments to facilitate the unrestricted flow of opioid prescriptions, significantly contributing to the devastating opioid crisis. This wasn’t a simple oversight; these payments, often in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually, acted as a de facto incentive to prioritize profit over public health. The sheer scale of the payments, like the approximately $400 million Purdue Pharma paid to PBMs by 2012, underscores the blatant disregard for the human cost of their actions.
These PBMs, controlling access to medication for millions, wielded immense power. Instead of utilizing this power to restrict opioid prescriptions, even amidst a surging overdose crisis, they actively worked to keep the flow of opioids unrestricted.… Continue reading
As a healthcare professional, I have always been appalled by the exorbitant prices that pharmaceutical companies charge for life-saving medications in the United States. The recent controversy surrounding Novo Nordisk’s pricing of Ozempic and Wegovy sheds light on the profit-driven motives that underlie the pharmaceutical industry. It is truly disheartening to see medications that could potentially improve the health and well-being of individuals being priced out of reach for many Americans.
Novo Nordisk’s CEO, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, has defended the high U.S. prices of these drugs by claiming that they are ‘helping’ reduce the cost of obesity in the long run.… Continue reading
I find it truly remarkable that a potential breakthrough in HIV prevention is within reach, with a vaccine that could cost as little as $40 a year per patient. The introduction of lenacapavir, an injection that can prevent infection and suppress HIV, is indeed a significant step forward in the fight against this global health crisis. The prospect of having an injection that only needs to be administered every six months and can provide such crucial protection is a game-changer. It is something that could potentially revolutionize the way we approach HIV prevention.
However, the reality of the situation quickly becomes grim when we realize that the actual cost of taking this vaccine in the USA is staggering.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker