In a recent WIRED interview, Mark Cuban discussed his pharmaceutical company, Cost Plus Drugs, highlighting its success in disrupting the industry by offering transparent pricing and significantly lower drug costs. Cuban claims the company has lowered prices daily for 18 months, resulting in potential billion-dollar savings for Medicare. He also commented on his move from X to Bluesky, citing Bluesky’s superior troll-blocking and engagement features, contrasting it with X’s current state under Elon Musk’s ownership. Cuban believes Bluesky offers a more genuine social networking experience.
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Novo Nordisk’s recent announcement to slash US list prices of two insulin products by more than 70% is undeniably a significant event. This dramatic price reduction, while seemingly a benevolent act, is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors beyond simple corporate altruism.
The timing of this price cut is intriguing, coinciding with the Biden administration’s negotiations with pharmaceutical companies to lower Medicare drug prices. While the full effects of these negotiations won’t be felt until 2026, Novo Nordisk’s proactive move suggests a response to the broader pressure for affordability in the insulin market. It’s tempting to see this as a direct result of political pressure, and perhaps it partially is, but it’s likely more nuanced than that.… Continue reading
CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group, and Cigna filed a lawsuit against the FTC, arguing the agency’s administrative court proceedings regarding insulin pricing violate their Fifth Amendment due process rights. The companies contend the FTC’s claims, alleging a “perverse” rebate system inflates insulin costs, should be litigated in federal court, not the agency’s internal process. They argue the FTC’s structure lacks democratic accountability, deeming the process fundamentally unfair. The FTC responded that the companies’ constitutional challenge is a distraction from accusations of harming patients through inflated insulin prices. This action follows earlier recusal requests based on alleged commissioner bias.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood