Drug Pricing Dominates Senate Questioning Of HHS Nominee Alex Azar
During a hearing on Alex Azar's nomination to be the next head of the Department of Human and Human Services, Democratic lawmakers -- and some Republicans like Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) -- raise questions about the former Eli Lilly executive's policy positions and ability to regulate the industry where he made his career.
Los Angeles Times:
Trump Health Secretary Nominee, A Former Pharmaceutical Executive, Pledges To Take On High Drug Prices
Alex Azar, a former pharmaceutical executive tapped by President Trump to be Health and Human Services secretary, told senators Wednesday that making prescription drugs more affordable would be one of his top priorities. “Drug prices are too high,” Azar told the Senate health committee, pledging to look at ways to increase competition and stop drugmakers from gaming the system. “I believe I can bring the skills and experiences to the table that can help us address these issues.” (Levey, 11/29)
The Hill:
Five Takeaways From Trump Health Nominee’s Hearing
Alex Azar, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) took his first step forward Wednesday at a relatively quiet confirmation hearing by the Senate Health Committee. If confirmed, the former HHS general counsel and deputy secretary would replace former Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who resigned after reports that he’d repeatedly used private jets to fly around the country at taxpayer expense. (Roubein, 11/29)
Stat:
In A Shift, Debate Over Drug Prices Overshadows Obamacare
After years in which the debate over Obamacare has dominated all health policymaking discussion on Capitol Hill, U.S. lawmakers are increasingly turning their attention to the prices that everyday Americans pay for their prescription drugs. Less than one year ago, when the Senate health committee spent four hours grilling Tom Price, President Trump’s nominee as secretary of health and human services, Democrats focused their most aggressive attention on his support for repealing Obamacare and for making major changes to the Medicare and Medicaid programs, as well as his investments in an Australian biotech company. (Mershon, 11/29)
In other drug pricing news —
Stat:
How The Orphan Drug Tax Credit May Change. What You Need To Know
As congressional Republicans race toward a vote on their tax code overhaul, a key tax credit for biotech and pharmaceutical companies — the so-called orphan drug tax credit — is on the line. The House passed a tax reform package earlier this month that would entirely repeal the credit, which is aimed at incentivizing research into treatments for especially rare diseases. The Senate version, up for a vote this week, lessens the amount companies can claim under the credit but keeps the idea in place. If it clears the Senate, the two chambers would have to reconcile their different versions before it could head to President Trump’s desk. (Mershon, 11/29)
Stat:
Pharma Charity Under Fire For Letting Drug Makers Access Data
A charity that has received hundreds of millions of dollars from drug makers lost an important designation from federal authorities for allowing donors to influence how patient data was used. Caring Voice Coalition, which takes industry donations to help patients pay for their medicines, allowed drug makers access to information that could be used in deciding whether to raise prices. By doing so, authorities said, the companies could shield patients from the immediate effect of increased out-of-pocket costs, because federal health care programs, such as Medicare, would pick up the tab. Charities are prohibited by government regulations from disclosing detailed information about their operations. (Silverman, 11/29)
Modern Healthcare:
FDA To Pave Clearer Path For Generic Drugs
U.S. FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb relayed a new guidance Tuesday that may shed some light on the path generic-drug manufacturers can take to get their products to market. The Food and Drug Administration aims to make it easier for generic-pharmaceutical developers to plan how they can copy complex drugs, which should ultimately lower pharmaceutical prices when more of the cheaper drugs enter the market. Certain drugs have been difficult to replicate and gain regulatory approval for, particularly drug-device combinations like EpiPen, because there has been minimal guidance from the FDA on how to adequately do so. (Kacik, 11/29)