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What We're Reading: Cheaper Hepatitis C Drugs; Pharma Discount Rollback; HHS Pulls Fetal Tissue Research
Gilead Sciences will sell authorized generics of its blockbuster hepatitis C drugs Epclusa and Harvoni; the pharmaceutical industry inserted a measure into an opioid bill to reverse discounts they would be required to give next year to seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D plans; the Trump administration has terminated a contract with a fetal tissue firm after being criticized by antiabortion groups and Republican lawmakers.
Gilead Sciences to Sell Authorized Generics of Hepatitis C Drugs
Gilead Sciences will sell authorized generics of its blockbuster hepatitis C drugs Epclusa and Harvoni, Bloomberg reported. The brand-name versions sparked widespread debate about US pharmaceutical costs when they were introduced at a price of more than $1000 per pill. The less expensive versions will cost $24,000 for a course of treatment, which compares with a list price for Harvoni of $94,500. The company’s hepatitis C drugs remain among the best-selling pharmaceutical products in history, but they've also made Gilead the subject of congressional hearings and accusations of greed.
Pharma Industry Seeks to Reverse Planned Increase in Medicare Drug Discounts
The pharmaceutical industry inserted a measure into an opioid bill to reverse discounts they would be required to give next year to seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D plans, The New York Times reported. The $4 billion giveback is encountering fierce opposition. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, is calling the measure a “technical correction” to a bipartisan budget law signed by President Donald Trump in February. The law required drug manufacturers to provide deeper discounts to Medicare beneficiaries whose spending on prescription drugs falls within the coverage gap. The 50% discount on brand-name drugs is set to rise 70% next year.
HHS Cancels Fetal Tissue Research Contract
The Trump administration has terminated a contract with a fetal tissue firm after being criticized by antiabortion groups and Republican lawmakers, The Hill reported. The FDA had contracted with Advanced Bioscience Resources for $16,000 to acquire fetal tissue to implant into mice for research purposes. HHS ended the contract because it was not "sufficiently assured" that the contract included appropriate protections and followed requirements for fetal tissue research. Supporters of fetal tissue research say it has led to the development of medical advances, including the polio vaccine. HHS said it is also conducting an audit of all acquisitions involving human fetal tissue.
Urticaria Diagnosis Challenged by Overlapping Pruritic Skin Conditions
April 23rd 2025Urticaria is complicated to diagnose by its symptomatic overlap with other skin conditions and the frequent misclassification in literature of distinct pathologies like vasculitic urticaria and bullous pemphigus.
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New Research Challenges Assumptions About Hospital-Physician Integration, Medicare Patient Mix
April 22nd 2025On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Brady Post, PhD, lead author of a study published in the April 2025 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care®, challenges the claim that hospital-employed physicians serve a more complex patient mix.
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Personalized Care Key as Tirzepatide Use Expands Rapidly
April 15th 2025Using commercial insurance claims data and the US launch of tirzepatide as their dividing point, John Ostrominski, MD, Harvard Medical School, and his team studied trends in the use of both glucose-lowering and weight-lowering medications, comparing outcomes between adults with and without type 2 diabetes.
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ACOs’ Focus on Rooting Out Fraud Aligns With CMS Vision Under Oz
April 23rd 2025Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are increasingly playing the role of data sleuths as they identify and report trends of anomalous billing in hopes of salvaging their shared savings. This mission dovetails with that of CMS, which under the new administration plans to prioritize rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse.
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