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What We're Reading: Ad Spending for Drugs on the Rise
What we're reading, March 10, 2016: spending on drug advertisements up 60% over 4 years; lawsuit between Gilead and Merck over hepatitis C virus drugs; and Tennessee considers allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives.
Despite lawmakers pushing for tighter restrictions on drug advertisements, drug makers are pouring more money into TV and print campaigns. STAT reported that ad spending increased 60% in the last 4 years and 9 prescription drugs are expected to spend more than $100 million for ad time. Humira, Lyrica, Eliquis, Cialis, and Xeljanz were responsible for the most ad spend last year.
A lawsuit between Gilead Sciences and Merck & Co will kick off this week regarding patent claims on Gilead’s hepatitis C virus drugs. Merck wants a cut of Gilead’s sales of Sovaldi and Harvoni because the active ingredient, sofosbuvir, infringes 2 of Merck’s patents, reported The Wall Street Journal. Gilead is seeking a judgement that Merck’s patents are invalid. Gilead is also having trouble with AbbVie, which also claims Gilead’s drugs infringe patents covering various drug combinations.
Tennessee could become the next state to allow women to obtain contraceptives from a pharmacist. The bill, which would allow pharmacists who enter an agreement with a physician and meets certain provisions to prescribe birth control, passed the state Senate, reported USA Today. Since the pharmacist would still need to write a prescription, health insurance would cover the cost. This Tennessee bill follows similar ones passed in Oregon and California.
FDA Approves Expanded Indication of Eculizumab for Pediatric Generalized Myasthenia Gravis
March 15th 2025The FDA first approved eculizumab for use in adult patients with generalized myasthenia gravis in 2017, before expanding the indication to include pediatric patients who are 6 years or older and positive for antiacetylcholine receptor antibodies.
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Oz Confirmation Hearing Probes Vision for Medicaid but Coalesces Around Well-Being
March 14th 2025Mehmet Oz, MD, the nominee to lead CMS under the Trump administration, testified in a confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, where he found common ground on improving outcomes through healthier lifestyle choices but encountered repeated questions on potential Medicaid cuts.
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Technology Takes Center Stage at the 2025 AAD Annual Meeting
March 14th 2025The role of artificial intelligence, DataDerm, and telehealth in advancing dermatology care was discussed throughout the meeting, with experts highlighting their potential regarding patient access and health equity.
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PAH Treatment Benefits Extend to Patients With Repaired Congenital Heart Disease
March 14th 2025Historical data show the prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adult patients with congenital heart disease ranges from 4% to 28%, according to studies from the US and Europe—and that the prevalence of these comorbid condition is on the rise.
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