This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts while we put the finishing touches on DCI’s new 2024-25 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors.

Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released the redacted version of administrative complaint against the three largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The FTC rightly calls out how the gross-to-net bubble can raise patients’ out-of-pocket costs, while also acknowledging how rebates can reduce a plan's (but not the patient’s) costs. Apparently, the FTC believes that PBMs’ customers are pretty dumb, because PBMs are able to prevent plans from “appreciating” such healthcare financing dynamics.

Section V.E. of the complaint (starting on page 23) focuses on the PBMs’ alleged unlawful conduct related to preferring high-list/high-rebate insulin products over versions with lower list prices. I thought it would therefore be fun to take the Wayback Machine to November 2021, when I wrote about this specific topic.

Below, you can review my commentary about the warped incentives behind Viatris’ dual-pricing strategy for its interchangeable biosimilar of Lantus. Much of the FTC’s description of the drug channel aligns with my commentary. But before you fist pump too hard for Ms. Khan’s FTC, you should pause to reflect on the agency’s legal theories in light of plans’ revealed preferences.

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The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first interchangeable biosimilar insulin product: the insulin glargine-yfgn injection from Viatris. Read the FDA’s press release.

Alas, I’m sad to report that the warped incentives baked into the U.S. drug channel will limit the impact of this impressive breakthrough.

Viatris is being forced to launch both a high-priced and a low-priced version of the biosimilar. However, only the high-list/high-rebate, branded version will be available on Express Scripts’ largest commercial formulary. Express Scripts will block both the branded reference product and the lower-priced, unbranded—but also interchangeable—version. Meanwhile, Prime Therapeutics will place both versions on its formularies, leaving the choice up to its plan sponsor clients.

Consequently, many commercial payers will adopt the more expensive product instead of the identical—but cheaper—version. As usual, patients will be the ultimate victims of our current drug pricing system.

Below, I explain the weird economics behind this decision, highlight the negative impact on patients, and speculate on what this all could mean for biosimilars’ future. Until plan sponsors break their addiction to rebates, today’s U.S. drug channel problems will remain.
Read more »

Eeek! It's time for Drug Channels’ Halloween roundup of terrifying tales to share with your ghoulish fiends. This month’s tricks and treats:

• Spooky! Blue Shield of California frightens away the gross-to-net bubble with its Humira biosimilar strategy

• Vampiric! Prior authorization sinks its fangs into providers’ time

• Wicked! How the IRA will put a stake through specialty physician practices

• Eerie! Google’s monstrous AI podcasts leave me petrified

• Zoinks! Join the vampire hunters at Drug Channels Institute

Plus, Dr. Glaucomflecken tells us a frightening tale of copayments.

P.S. Stretch out your arms and join the ever-growing zombie horde who shamble after me on LinkedIn. You’ll find my ghostly rantings along with commentary from the undead hordes in the DCI community.
Read more »

Feb 10, 2024

Assaf Zoran argues that it is crucial to hold Iran accountable and convey the cost associated with arming, training, financing, and promoting violence through proxies.

T. Rowe Price Survey Key Findings

Presenting The Great Carol Comeback.

Kids on Spending and Saving

Introducing the new Pivotal Living Smart Scale, which tracks five key metrics including Weight, Lean Body Mass, Body Fat Percentage, Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and Body Mass Index (BMI).

Discover how IWMI researchers are using climate-smart agriculture to combat low crop yields in the Global South.

The post Severe summer weather ruins crops in Asia and Africa causing vegetable prices to skyrocket first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

The most hated CEO in the United States is again planning to increase the price of a drug used to treat Chagas disease in the Latin America.Chagas disease

Weak global cues, lower crude oil prices and political bickering over the government's demonetisation move pulled the Indian equity markets lower on Thursday.

Rakul's Diwali lehenga is way more expensive than some wedding trousseaus but going by the comment section of her post, fans love her look

Eric Council Jr. and unnamed co-conspirators were allegedly behind the hack of the official @SECGov account on X.

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline decreased to $3.09 a gallon on Monday. That's down 2.7 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline decreased to $3.09 a gallon on Monday. That's down 2.7 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel fuel decreased to $3.88 a gallon on Monday. That's down 3.8 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average retail price for propane is $2.48 per gallon, up 1.1 cents from last week's price, but down 21.4 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Propane prices in the Midwest region averaged $2.00 per gallon, up 1 cent from last week, but down 28.8 cents from a year ago.

The average retail price for home heating oil fell 3.3 cents from last week to $3.97 per gallon. That's down 69.8 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Heating oil prices in the New England region are at $3.95 per gallon, down 3.5 cents from last week, and down 66.9 cents from a year ago.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline decreased to $3.07 a gallon on Monday. That's down 1.6 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline decreased to $3.07 a gallon on Monday. That's down 1.6 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel fuel decreased to $3.83 a gallon on Monday. That's down 4.8 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average retail price for propane is $2.50 per gallon, up 2 cents from last week's price, but down 19.6 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Propane prices in the Midwest region averaged $2.02 per gallon, up 1.4 cents from last week, but down 27.3 cents from a year ago.

The average retail price for home heating oil fell 3 tenths of a cent from last week to $3.96 per gallon. That's down 58.8 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Heating oil prices in the New England region are at $3.94 per gallon, down 1 cent from last week, and down 56 cents from a year ago.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline decreased to $3.06 a gallon on Monday. That's down 1.5 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline decreased to $3.06 a gallon on Monday. That's down 1.5 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel fuel increased to $3.86 a gallon on Monday. That's up 3.5 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average retail price for propane is $2.54 per gallon, up 4.2 cents from last week's price, but down 15.6 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Propane prices in the Midwest region averaged $2.06 per gallon, up 4 cents from last week, but down 23.5 cents from a year ago.

The average retail price for home heating oil rose 4.3 cents from last week to $4.00 per gallon. That's down 59.8 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Heating oil prices in the New England region are at $3.97 per gallon, up 3.3 cents from last week, but down 55.5 cents from a year ago.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased to $3.06 a gallon on Monday. That's up 0.4 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased to $3.06 a gallon on Monday. That's up 0.4 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel fuel decreased to $3.84 a gallon on Monday. That's down 2.5 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average retail price for propane is $2.57 per gallon, up 3 cents from last week's price, but down 13.4 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Propane prices in the Midwest region averaged $2.10 per gallon, up 3.9 cents from last week, but down 20.4 cents from a year ago.

The average retail price for home heating oil rose 6-tenths of a cent from last week to $4.00 per gallon. That's down 69.7 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Heating oil prices in the New England region are at $3.98 per gallon, up 1.2 cents from last week, but down 64.1 cents from a year ago.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased to $3.10 a gallon on Monday. That's up 3.3 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased to $3.10 a gallon on Monday. That's up 3.3 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel fuel increased to $3.87 a gallon on Monday. That's up 2.9 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average retail price for propane is $2.59 per gallon, up 1.6 cents from last week's price, but down 12.3 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Propane prices in the Midwest region averaged $2.10 per gallon, up 1 cents from last week, but down 19.7 cents from a year ago.

The average retail price for home heating oil rose 5 cents from last week to $4.05 per gallon. That's down 61 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Heating oil prices in the New England region are at $4.04 per gallon, up 6.7 cents from last week, but down 55.5 cents from a year ago..

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased to $3.14 a gallon on Monday. That's up 4.1 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased to $3.14 a gallon on Monday. That's up 4.1 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel fuel increased to $3.90 a gallon on Monday. That's up 3.2 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average retail price for propane is $2.60 per gallon, up 1.6 cents from last week's price, but down 10.7 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Propane prices in the Midwest region averaged $2.11 per gallon, up 7-tenths of a cent from last week, but down 18.7 cents from a year ago.

The average retail price for home heating oil rose 1-tenth of a cent from last week to $4.05 per gallon. That's down 41.8 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Heating oil prices in the New England region are at $4.03 per gallon, up 4-tenths of a cent from last week, and down 39.8 cents from a year ago.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased to $3.19 a gallon on Monday. That's up 5.6 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased to $3.19 a gallon on Monday. That's up 5.6 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel fuel increased to $4.11 a gallon on Monday. That's up 21.0 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average retail price for propane is $2.61 per gallon, up 1 cent from last week's price, but down 9.5 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Propane prices in the Midwest region averaged $2.12 per gallon, up 3-tenths of a cent from last week, but down 18 cents from a year ago.

The average retail price for home heating oil rose 11.8 cents from last week to $4.16 per gallon. That's down 22.9 cents from a year ago, based on the residential heating fuel survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Heating oil prices in the New England region are at $4.15 per gallon, up 11.7 cents from last week, but down 18.2 cents from a year ago.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased to $3.27 a gallon on Monday. That's up 7.7 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased to $3.27 a gallon on Monday. That's up 7.7 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.