Pharma execs dodge attempts to pin blame for high prices

Seven drug industry executives faced the Senate Finance Committee yesterday to answer for rising drug prices — but the hearing wasn't as heated as some expected. Here's a quick rundown: 

• The takeaway: The hearing was largely a rehashing of arguments that lawmakers and the drug industry have spent years sharpening. For the most part, the industry execs who testified dodged tougher lines of questioning, pivoting repeatedly to lines about innovation and new cures. 
• The fireworks: Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) criticized the companies, at one point calling out the price increases of AbbVie's arthritis medicine Humira. “Can patients opt for a less expensive alternative? No, they cannot, because AbbVie protects the exclusivity of Humira like Gollum with his ring," he said.
• On a related note: Health secretary Alex Azar is talking about bringing down health care costs at the National Association of Health Underwriters meeting this morning.

STAT's D.C. reporters are holding a webinar today at 1 p.m. ET to answer your questions about the hearing. Sign up here.