Albendazole can obliterate hookworm with only two pills, but while Tanzania pays only 4 cents for the pills, U.S. consumers pay roughly $400. The pricing discrepancy, however, is not specific to the one drug, according to NPR reports; treatments for "neglected tropical diseases" are notoriously […]
The ROI of Orphan Drugs: Ensuring Optimal Returns
Orphan drugs are at the forefront of medical science and offer a chance for the pharma industry to make a real difference to people's lives; there's also the lure of potentially lucrative commercial benefits for those that succeed. But finding the right balance between return on investment (ROI) and […]
ISPOR Announces Rebranding Effort
The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) will soon have a new look. ISPOR CEO and Executive Director Nancy Berg said in an email Monday that the society will take on a rebranding project as it continues to become "more interdisciplinary and more […]
Latest MAPS Webinar Now Available to Stream Free
The Medical Affairs Professional Society announced its latest webinar, titled "The United States Health Care System," is now available to stream for free. The 54-minute webinar features BJC HealthCare General Internist and Washington University School of Medicine Clinical Medicine Instructor Dr. […]
What’s in the Pipeline for Anti-Epilepsy Market?
The anti-epilepsy market is gaining momentum in the pharmaceutical industry as 2018 nears. Market constraints, however, include the high price tag of clinical trials and a need for "high-level post market surveillance," according to MMIT. MMIT has more on what's in the pipeline for 2018. Read more […]
What’s in Store for Humana after the CVS-Aetna Merger?
When a historic deal such as the CVS Health-Aetna acquisition hits the U.S. market, it could set off a chain reaction. Now, taking notes from past deals, some are questioning what lies in store for health insurer Humana. A Fierce Healthcare report points to two failed deals in 2015 in which Anthem […]
RTI Health Solutions Breaks Down ISPOR/ISPE RWE Guidelines
RTI Health Solutions recently posted a simple guide to help understand the upcoming ISPOR/ISPE real-world evidence guidelines. Below are a couple guidelines RTI breaks down in its post: Determine and declare that a study is either a Hypothesis Evaluation Treatment Effectiveness (HETE) study or […]
Biopharma Consultant Releases New Book
"MoneyBall Medicine: Thriving in the New Data-Driven Healthcare Market"
A well-known consultant for the biopharmaceutical and diagnostics industries, Harry Glorikian, recently released his latest book titled "MoneyBall Medicine: Thriving in the New Data-Driven Healthcare Market." Klorikian in 2016 also published "Commercializing Novel IVDs: Comprehensive Manual for […]
FDA Issues 3 New Guidances on Digital Health
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued three new guidances regarding digital health. According to Discoveries in Health Policy, the guidances include two in the draft stages and one finalized version. Following are the guidances: Clinical and Patient Decision Support […]
New Syndicated Report – Orphan Drug Launch Strategies: Case Studies
Compared to mainstream drug launches, it's usually a much smaller team with fewer resources that are tasked with bringing a new orphan drug to market. And the market itself is smaller too – fewer specialists to talk to, fewer physicians to educate, and fewer patients to engage with. But smaller […]
NPC’s Dubois: Address U.S. Health Care Spending Now, Not Later
National Pharmaceutical Council Chief Science Officer Robert Dubois took to pen and pad this week after the government's latest report on health care spending. According to recent figures, the U.S. spent roughly $3.3 trillion on health care in 2016, a 4.3 percent increase over 2015's reported […]
Survey: Payers, Providers Want More Data from Biopharma Companies
According to a recent survey by the Health Strategies Group, payers and providers both would like more information from biopharmaceutical companies regarding prescription medications. The survey, according to a PhRMA report, "underscores that increased access to more complete information about […]
White Paper: Fourth-generation Interoperability for Value-based Care
Download this white paper to learn about the future of interoperability: fourth-generation solutions that deliver clinical/financial data integration, population health management, performance management, and more — on one platform. As value-based care continues to permeate healthcare, […]
FDA Green Lights Novo Nordisk Diabetes Drug
Ozempic is a once-weekly diabetes treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given Novo Nordisk's latest diabetes drug, Ozempic, a green light. The agency announced the decision Tuesday, Reuter's reports. Novo Nordisk developed the weekly injection in an effort to pull some market share from Trulicity, another once-weekly injection […]
Picard: Drug Costs Should Aim for Fair, Not Cheap
The Globe and Mail Writer Andre Picard said in an opinion piece published Monday that prescription drug costs should aim for "fair," not "cheap." Picard in his column cited a recent Health Canada analysis in which it said, "Canadians are not getting the value for money on prescription medicine […]
NICE Rejects Novartis, Roche in Draft Guidance
In a down day for drugmakers Novartis and Roche, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) turned down drugs from both companies in a draft guidance published Tuesday. NICE opted not to support drugs from both companies for regular use in the National Health Service. Click here […]
New Syndicated Report: 2017 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers
The 2017 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers remains the most comprehensive, fact-based analysis of the evolving drug channels within the U.S. healthcare system. It’s your ultimate guide to the complex web of interactions within the U.S. prescription distribution and […]
U.S. Mulls New Payment Methods to Curb Medicare, Medicaid Costs
The U.S. government is looking into new payment methods aimed at wrangling the high costs for Medicare and Medicaid coverage for breakthrough therapies. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma told Reuters about the effort during an interview in New York. "We are […]
Gottlieb Sent a Mixed Message During Congressional Hearing
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said during a Congressional hearing he wanted to the federal agency to "remain steadfast to our gold standard for safety and efficacy," but that he wanted more "scientifically modern and efficient" development for breakthrough […]
CVS-Aetna Merger Could be Boon for Consumers
Partnered Evidence-Based Policy Resource Center Director Austin Frakt says there may be a bright side for consumers in the recently-announced CVS-Aetna merger. In a write up published Sunday in the New York Times, Frakt says consumers stand to benefit from the resulting disruption in the pharmacy […]
Evidence Partners Releases Latest Quarterly Newsletter
Evidence Partners (EP) on Friday released its latest Evidence Matters, a quarterly newsletter designated for evidence-based professionals. The latest newsletter brings a healthy offering of industry tricks and insights with Evidence Partners' latest blog posts. Following are the latest blog […]
REMS: What it is and Why it Matters
Via Specialty Pharmacy Times: "One of the most prominent and distinguishing features between specialty and non-specialty medications is the importance of risk mitigation. Now, before you jump all over me, let me clear the air. Yes, there is always an inherent need for a pharmacist to mitigate the […]
A Look at the Life of Uwe Reinhardt
Via the New York Times: "Professor Uwe Reinhardt helped shape health care deliberations for decades as a prolific contributor to numerous publications, an adviser to White House and congressional policymakers, a member of federal and professional commissions and a consultant and board member, paid […]
JHF President/CEO: Be the Revolution in Health Care
Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) President and CEO Dr. Karen Feinstein says the health care industry requires more reform-minded leaders before there can be a revolution in the field. Feinstein in a Health Affairs blog post published Nov. 28 says the JHF, alongside its two supporting […]
Fein Talks CVS, Express Scripts and McKesson Transactions
Drug Channels' Adam Fein in a recent post discussed recent transactions involving McKesson, CVS Health and Express Scripts. McKesson in November reportedly coughed up a whopping $735 million to buy RxCrossroads, a specialty hub business, from CVS Health. Express Scripts, following suit with CVS, […]
Amazon’s Offerings Could Endanger Pharmacy Ambitions
One of Amazon's big selling points, its huge selection of offerings, could become the proverbial thorn in its side as it attempts to thrust its way into the pharmacy realm. According to a MarketWatch report, Amazon's broad selection of health products could be detrimental to its ambitions, […]
Incoming Novartis CEO Looks to Break from Herd
Vas Narasimhan, incoming Novartis CEO, says he's looking to break away from the herd in drug development. Narasimhan on Wednesday spoke on the company's plan moving forward during the Forbes Healthcare Summit in New York City. "How do you make smart, contrarian bets?" he asked, referring to his […]
HHS Pick Says He’d Back Outcomes-Based Pay
Azar made the comments during a confirmation hearing
Alex Azar, President Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, says he would continue to embrace value-based payments should he be confirmed. Azar made the comments Wednesday during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions […]
Survey Shows No Universal Definition of ‘Value’
A survey released Wednesday by the University of Utah suggests the word "value" has no universal definition in the health care industry. The survey shows some 88 percent of physicians defined value according to quality care, according to STAT News reports, but patients and employers "provided a […]
Azar: Let Medicare Part B Negotiate Drug Prices
President Donald Trump's pick to replace Tom Price as the Health and Human Services secretary, Alex Azar, says the Medicare Part B program should be allowed to negotiate drug prices. Azar made the comments during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing […]
