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Importation To Address Drug Pricing? Just Do It – But Don’t Justify It

 
• By Michael McCaughan

The idea of permitting importation of competitors to products like Daraprim has an undeniable appeal, and – unlike essentially every other idea on the table to deal with drug pricing – would actually address the singular example that helped kick off the current debate. But creating a legal framework to justify the action is very perilous for the industry overall. 

Large US American flag on sailboat off the coast of California

Eight years ago, the US FDA responded to outrage over the launch price of a newly approved pre-term labor drug, KV Pharmaceuticals’ Makena, by publicly announcing that it would – in effect – turn a blind eye to continued compounding of the ingredient (hydroxyprogesterone).

That had devastating consequences for the manufacturer, who ultimately went into bankruptcy. (Makena is now marketed by AMAG Pharmaceuticals...

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More from Pricing Debate

Pink Sheet Podcast: The US and Ex-US Impact Of Most-Favored Nation Drug Pricing

 
• By Derrick Gingery, Francesca Bruce, Cathy Kelly, and Nielsen Hobbs

Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss the potential impact of the Most-Favored Nation drug pricing proposal on Europe, the United States, as well as the pharmaceutical industry.

Crisis Or Opportunity? US MFN Policy Could Test Japan’s Appetite For Reforms

 
• By Lisa Takagi

While the adoption of most favored nation drug pricing in the US stands to affect Japanese biopharma firms now heavily reliant on this market, it might also present an opportunity for pricing and policy reforms at home.

‘Brainless’ US MFN Policy Could Drive Pharma Investment To Europe

 
• By Francesca Bruce

European health systems already pay far too much for new medicines and payers will not accept higher prices to compensate for lower US prices, according to Anja Schiel, from NOMA, the Norwegian health technology assessment body.

Payment Cap Not Always Solution For Unaffordable Drugs, Maryland PDAB Director Says

 
• By Cathy Kelly

The state's Prescription Drug Affordability Board, the oldest of a growing list of the boards, chose six drugs for affordability reviews and has the authority to set a ceiling on the amount state and local government payers would reimburse for them.

More from Market Access

Pharma’s Protests Fall Flat As UK Locks In High Rebate Rates

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

Despite pushback by industry, the government is standing by its new statutory scheme rebate rates for branded medicines, including one that doubles the rate that companies must repay on the sales of newer products to the National Health Service to 31.3%.

Argentina Speeds Up Market Access Process

 
• By Francesca Bruce

Companies operating in Argentina may get their medicines to the market more quickly thanks to new updates to the medicines authorization system.

Crisis Or Opportunity? US MFN Policy Could Test Japan’s Appetite For Reforms

 
• By Lisa Takagi

While the adoption of most favored nation drug pricing in the US stands to affect Japanese biopharma firms now heavily reliant on this market, it might also present an opportunity for pricing and policy reforms at home.