What we're reading, December 2, 2015: Gilead priced Sovaldi knowing the high cost would be a challenge for patients and payers; Senate Republicans will vote Thursday on Obamacare repeal and expect to get the needed votes; and a report calls for a better focus on women's health.
Gilead Priced Sovaldi High Despite Knowing Challenges It Would Cause
An investigation into Gilead Sciences Inc’s pricing of its hepatitis C drug Sovaldi revealed that the company knew the list price would cause payers to restrict patient access and would present challenges for government health programs. The Wall Street Journal also reported that the US Senate committee reviewing internal documents uncovered one executive vice president urged the company not to “fold to advocacy pressure” and to stick with the $1000-a-pill price tag no matter what the response was.
GOP Confident It Will Pass Obamacare Repeal
If Senate Republicans are to pass their Affordable Care Act repeal and send it to the president’s desk, they can only afford 3 Republicans to jump ship. Currently 2 appear likely to defect over provisions in the bill to defund Planned Parenthood, although Senate Republicans are confident they will secure the needed 51 votes by the vote on Thursday, reported Politico. However, Republicans from states that have expanded Medicaid may be concerned about passing the bill.
Task Force Report Identifies Needed Research in Women’s Health
The US Preventive Services Task Force has called for a focus on women’s health beyond gynecological and reproductive issues. The report identified 5 high priority areas where there is a gap in evidence-based research. These areas include addressing effective screening in women for issues of domestic violence, drug abuse, depression, and suicide; thyroid dysfunction; and how recommendations can be implemented in primary care practices.
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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SGLT2 Inhibitors Show Renal Benefits in HF and CKD as Prescribers Target Uptake Gaps
April 15th 2025Abstracts featured at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting highlighted the renoprotective benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure and diabetic kidney disease while emphasizing the need for strategies to increase their uptake in primary care.
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Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: April 14, 2025
April 14th 2025From the potential impact of tariffs to the World Health Organization's year-long campaign launch focused on improving maternal and newborn health and addressing preventable deaths, here's the latest from the Center on Health Equity & Access.
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