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Incoming US FTC Chair Endorses Agency Report Challenging PBM Generic Drug Markups

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Chairman-designee Andrew Ferguson likely will continue the commission’s investigation of PBMs during the next administration.

Big PBMs generated more than $7bn from specialty generic drug markups, according to the FTC. (Citeline/Shutterstock)
Key Takeaways
  • Andrew Ferguson, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for FTC chairman, voted with the rest of the commission to release a second FTC interim report on its PBM investigation.
  • The report shows the leading PBMs and their affiliated specialty pharmacies marked up the prices of specialty generics for pulmonary hypertension, cancer and multiple sclerosis by thousands of a percent from 2017 through 2022 and by hundreds of a percent for other treatments, generating more than $7bn.
  • Ferguson’s support signals the commission will continue its scrutiny of PBMs in the next administration.

The Federal Trade Commission’s second interim staff report on its ongoing investigation of potential pharmacy benefit manager misdeeds is a parting shot by outgoing FTC...

The 14 January report highlights findings that the three leading PBMs, CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx, “marked up numerous specialty generic drugs dispensed at their affiliated pharmacies by thousands...

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