pharma industry news from FierceHealthcare
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DC considers pharma rep licenses, data mining limits
The District of Columbia is considering a measure which could make it the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to require pharmaceutical reps to obtain a license. The measure, the SafeRX act, would not... Read more...
House mulls new pharma ad limits
Pharma lobbyists are facing new challenges this month as the House of Representatives takes on a new FDA overhaul bill which could limit consumer drug advertising. Critics have suggested that such advertising can boost spending unnecessarily, but observers--including some not on the pharmas' payroll--suggest that the ads help educate consumers about new treatment options.
The Senate version of the bill had imposed a ban on consumer drug advertising during the first two years a drug …
... Read more...A flight of pharma marketing fancy
With New York becoming yet another state to consider regulating pharmaceutical company gift-giving, it's worth considering whether such regs are likely to achieve their intended purpose.
Here's my premise: No …
... Read more...SPOTLIGHT: Making the case for pharma-doctor friendship
While some critics would vigorously dispute the idea, a representative of the pharma industry is arguing that its close relationships with physicians are actually good for the industry. Pharma outreach to physicians makes sure that the physicians get the latest information on drugs from the companies that know the drugs' strengths and weaknesses best, which helps keep prescribing safe, says Scott Lassman, senior assistant general counsel for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Editorial
Prescription drug price increases slowing down
Something may be giving in the eternal fight between managed care and the pharma business over brand-name drug costs. Prescription drug prices rose at the slowest pace in a decade during 2006, climbing 8.2 percent, compared with 9 percent in 2005, according to prescription management firm Express Scripts. Experts don't expect the smaller increases to continue, however, as they anticipate that fewer costly high-volume brand name drugs will go generic in coming years.
Meanwhile, drug …
... Read more...Schering fined $435M for off-label marketing
A federal judge in Boston has accepted a $435 million settlement with Schering Sales and parent company Schering-Plough over allegations that the drug company illegally marketed off-label uses to physicians and lied to federal agencies about drug pricing. Under the settlement, which was reached in August, Schering Sales pleaded guilty to conspiracy and agreed to $180 million in criminal penalties, while Schering-Plough offered $255 million rather than face a civil trial, the …
... Read more...Dems tackle Medicare drug costs
Today the House of Representatives is set to pass a bill (H.R. 4) that would allow the federal government to negotiate Medicare Part D drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. Under the original Medicare law, the federal government was not allowed to bring its considerable bargaining power to the table in order to push down the cost of prescription drugs. Many critics felt that special interest--in the form of drug companies--used their influence to keep drug prices artificially high. …
... Read more...Critics question Democrats' Part D plans
Under the original Medicare law, the private insurers who offer Medicare Part D coverage negotiated prices with drug companies; the federal government was not allowed to bring its considerable bargaining power to the table in order to push down the cost of prescription drugs. Opponents have strenuously objected to this arrangement, saying that drug companies are reaping billions in profit because the federal government isn't forcing them to lower their prices. Many critics felt that …
... Read more...Poll shows support for Democrats' healthcare agenda
All eyes are on Washington D.C. as Democrats regain control of Congress today, and one of the incoming party's top priorities will be making easier for Americans to buy cheaper prescription drugs from other countries. An Associated Press-AOL News poll found that 69 percent of respondents support legislation that would makes these inexpensive drugs easier to acquire. "Importing prescription drugs to the United States is illegal, but the FDA generally does not bar individuals from …
... Read more...Democratic rule may boost generics
With Democrats taking power on the Hill, it seems likely that they'll push through rules making it easier to bring generics to market. In fact, observers say next year could be as important as 1984, the year new laws kicked off the current generics system. While it's not clear whether the Dems will let the FDA move from approving generic versions of chemically-derived drugs to generic biotech drugs, they may very well limit brand drug manufacturers' ability to thwart competition from …
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