Drug Channels delivers timely analysis and provocative opinions from Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., the country's foremost expert on pharmaceutical economics and the drug distribution system. Drug Channels reaches an engaged, loyal and growing audience of nearly 100,000 subscribers and followers. Learn more...
Today’s guest post comes from Nasir Ali, Chief Product Officer at CareMetx.
Nasir reviews the cumbersome processes that affect providers’ preferences when prescribing a specialty drug to their patients. He believes that embedding the specialty drug initiation process into the provider’s workflow will benefit both patients and prescribers.
Another news-laden summer is ending. Time to pack away your bathing suit, send the kids back to school, and cherish these curated curiosities that I combed from the Jersey shore:
Some uncomfortable realities of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA’s) first set of 10 prices
Amazon goes after retail pharmacies with an amusing lack of self-awareness
A health system-backed start-up pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) will somehow deliver massive drug costs savings
An intriguing solution for fixing the 340B program
Plus, Mark Cuban unloads on the healthcare system during an entertaining interview.
Have you requested an invite to the inaugural Drug Channels Leadership Forum? Attendance will be highly limited, so apply now. Full agenda coming soon!
Today’s guest post comes from Benjamin Hinton II, Senior Market Access Solutions Analyst at MMIT.
Benjamin reviews the growing trend of PBMs vertically integrating into the production of biosimilars. He shares data from an MMIT survey of 20 large national payers, independent plans, Blues affiliates and PBMs (excluding participants). The findings shed light on payers' view of biosimilar conpetition, contracting challenges, and other issues.
Last fall, poor ol’ Rite Aid finally succumbed to bankruptcy. It was pretty much the definition of an expected surprise.
To get a comprehensive look at the company’s ever-declining fortunes, DCI rummaged around the compnay's numerous bankruptcy filings. Below, you’ll find our review of Rite Aid’s current financial situation, shrinking store footprint, changing relationship with key wholesaler McKesson, surprisingly optimistic projections, and more.
Drug Channels has been tracking retail pharmacies’ economic and business challenges—and Rite Aid’s troubles—for many years. Consider this article to be an opportunity for some fact-based analysis to replace your schadenfreude.
Today’s guest post comes from Chris Dowd, Senior VP of Market Development at ConnectiveRx.
Chris reviews recent developments for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). He then recommends four IRA-related adjustments that manufacturers should make to their patient support programs.
In my recent The 340B Drug Pricing Program: Trends, Controversies, and Outlook video webinar, I provided an update on the economics of the 340B program, reviewed the multiple controversies surrounding the program’s operations, discussed state and federal legislation, and analyzed how the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) will alter the 340B market.
In the video excerpt below, I walk through a brief history of 340B contract pharmacies. I then document how five multi-billion-dollar, for-profit, publicly traded pharmacy chains and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—Cigna (via Express Scripts), CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group (via OptumRx), and Walgreens, Walmart—continue to dominate the 340B contract pharmacy market. I conclude with a “follow the dollar” example of 340B prescription economics with contract pharmacies.
Bello! The hot and hazy days of summer are here. Go for a swim to cool off and then enjoy this refreshing selection of articles chosen by Drug Channels para tu.
Did the FTC’s compelling interim report prove its case?
GoodRx joins the Humira biosimilar price war with Boehringer Ingelheim
Averon revealed to be a new buying group for biosimilars for CVS Health and Cardinal Health
Why the IRA will be bad news for 340B hospitals
Plus, the June 2024 update to my all-time favorite chart. Muak muak muak!
Have you requested an invite to the inaugural Drug Channels Leadership Forum? Attendance will be highly limited, so apply now. Full agenda coming in early September!
Experts from across the US come together each year to conquer the complex, ever-evolving MDRP regulatory guidelines and accelerate their careers by sourcing world-class content alongside everyone who matters in Medicaid.
Join Informa Connect in Chicago on September 23-25 for the 2024 Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Summit. You’ll benefit from three days of learning, education and networking, and will return to the office having mastered regulatory guidelines to deliver compliant government pricing and reporting programs.
More than 100 world class speakers are slated to present deep dive sessions, workshops and panels covering these topics and more:
State of the Industry Panel - Covington & Burling, Healthcare Leadership Council, NORD, PhRMA and Horizon Government Affairs discuss modeling potential outcomes post-election.
State Dispute Resolution Meetings - Manufacturers and States come together to discuss issues or questions related to rebates, reporting and more. Confirmed states include: Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • District of Columbia • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Louisiana • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Montana • Nebraska • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • Nevada • North Carolina • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • Tennessee • Virginia • Wisconsin.
Best Practices and Policy Ideas Town Hall - Listen in on an open dialogue covering processing claims, bid cycles, P&T meetings, reimbursement and more, led by Gainwell Technologies, Gilead Sciences, IL HFS Medicaid Drug Rebate Unit, AstraZeneca, and Conduent.
Ask the Attorneys Panel - Join this open Q&A with external counsel from Sidley Austin LLP and Latham & Watkins to get answers to your most challenging questions.
OIG Address - The Office of the Inspector General reviews recent OIG evaluations involving prescription drug pricing, payment and coverage.
Two Sessions from HRSA - Key Updates from HRSA’s Office of Pharmacy Affairs on the 340B Program and HRSA 340B Program Manufacturer Audit Process.
Workshops and Tracks throughout the Summit Covering GP 101, GTN Best Practices, Practical Strategies for Emerging, Small, and Mid-Sized Companies, State Drug Price Transparency, 340B, IRA, Tech and AI, State Level Trends, GP Recalculations across Government Programs, Smoothing Program Updates, and PDAB and SPTR Best Practices.
Back by Popular Demand - Closed Door Executive Strategy Summit!
View the agenda for the MDRP Summit to see the complete picture – the program, speakers, and more, and visit www.informaconnect.com/MDRPSummit for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save 10% off when they use code 24DRCH10 and register prior to August 23, 2024.*
*Cannot be combined with other offers or used towards a current registration. Cannot be combined with special category rates or other offers. Other restrictions may apply.
The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of HMP Omnimedia, LLC, Drug Channels Institute, its parent company, or any of its employees. To find out how you can promote an event on Drug Channels, please contact Paula Fein(paula@DrugChannels.net).
Today’s guest post comes from Joshua Guinter, Vice President of Channel Strategy and Product Access at Cencora.
Josh discusses the importance of a customized channel strategy for manufacturers. He outlines four key considerations that will ensure a successful strategy.
It’s time for Drug Channels’ annual update on pricing at the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers.
This year’s review includes the following 10 companies: Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Takeda, Teva, and UCB. You can find links to each company’s data below.
These data remain inconvenient for drug pricing flat earthers (#DPFE):
When rebates and discounts were factored in, brand-name drug prices again declined—or grew slowly—in 2023. For the companies that experienced net price gains in their portfolios, net prices grew more slowly than—or only slightly faster than—the overall inflation rate.
Rebates and discounts reduced the selling prices of brand-name drugs at the biggest drugmakers to less than half of their list prices.
For the eight companies with multiple years of data, the gross-to-net difference in price changes remained sizable. See the second chart below.
As I noted last week, multiple forces are poised to pop the gross-to-net bubble for high-list/high-rebate products. Insulin has been the first to deflate—and the Humira biosimilar market may be next. Journey with me to Bikini Bottom as we delve into the murky waters of gross-to-net drug pricing at the biggest drugmakers.
Today’s guest post comes from Greg Skalicky, President, EVERSANA; Krista Pinto, President, Deployment Solutions, EVERSANA; and Faruk Abdullah, President, Professional Services & Chief Business Officer, EVERSANA
Greg, Krista, and Faruk explain how and why integrated delivery networks (IDNs) have become crucial stakeholders for drug commercialization. They outline a two-pronged strategy to help brand teams thrive in today’s IDN landscape.
