Welcome to another D.C. Diagnosis — Lev Facher here filling in for Nick, who is on a well-deserved vacation that apparently involves a co-ed bachelorette party. If you’ve got tips, questions, or kosher-for-Passover recipes, I’m at lev.facher@statnews.com.
SCOOP: Liberal groups turn up the heat on drug pricing
Several influential progressive organizations, including MoveOn and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, will soon announce a coalition aimed at pressuring Democrats to lower drug costs, congressional aides and other progressive drug-pricing advocates told STAT. Leaders of the new advocacy group — which also includes Public Citizen and Social Security Works — will meet this week with the staff of Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus drug-pricing task force.
The broader coalition — which includes major left-wing groups that haven’t yet waded into the drug-pricing fight — is a sign of just how frustrated some progressives have become that Democratic leadership isn’t acting more aggressively on the issue.
The coalition won’t formally be rolled out for several weeks, but some member groups are already dialing up the pressure on Democrats. Alex Lawson, the executive director of Social Security Works, told STAT his group and others, including the Business Initiative for Health Policy and the PCCC, will soon roll out a drug-pricing “scorecard” that grades lawmakers based on their drug pricing stances. The litmus test will include key policies in Doggett’s marquee drug-pricing bill allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and, in select cases, breaking monopolies for certain expensive drugs.
The broader coalition — which includes major left-wing groups that haven’t yet waded into the drug-pricing fight — is a sign of just how frustrated some progressives have become that Democratic leadership isn’t acting more aggressively on the issue.
The coalition won’t formally be rolled out for several weeks, but some member groups are already dialing up the pressure on Democrats. Alex Lawson, the executive director of Social Security Works, told STAT his group and others, including the Business Initiative for Health Policy and the PCCC, will soon roll out a drug-pricing “scorecard” that grades lawmakers based on their drug pricing stances. The litmus test will include key policies in Doggett’s marquee drug-pricing bill allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and, in select cases, breaking monopolies for certain expensive drugs.
SCOOP: Democrats push to deregulate addiction treatment
Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) will introduce legislation next week to allow physicians to prescribe the addiction-treatment drug buprenorphine without restrictions, his office told STAT. Tonko’s argument, and that of many addiction physicians: Why shouldn’t a doctor who prescribes opioids be allowed to prescribe drugs that treat opioid addiction?
Currently, just 5% of U.S. physicians have undergone the eight-hour training required to prescribe buprenorphine (commonly marketed as Suboxone). The movement to expand treatment access comes as many advocates argue the government’s response to the opioid crisis has lacked ambition. Last week, Trump administration officials announced a plan to reduce overdose deaths by 40 percent, over the next three years, in just a small handful of hard-hit communities. Despite its limited scope, it’s one of the federal government’s most aggressive goals yet.
Tonko’s bill will also come just weeks after the Justice Department announced a lawsuit against buprenorphine’s best-known manufacturer: Indivior, the British firm now accused of fraudulently marketing Suboxone as being safer than generic alternatives.
Currently, just 5% of U.S. physicians have undergone the eight-hour training required to prescribe buprenorphine (commonly marketed as Suboxone). The movement to expand treatment access comes as many advocates argue the government’s response to the opioid crisis has lacked ambition. Last week, Trump administration officials announced a plan to reduce overdose deaths by 40 percent, over the next three years, in just a small handful of hard-hit communities. Despite its limited scope, it’s one of the federal government’s most aggressive goals yet.
Tonko’s bill will also come just weeks after the Justice Department announced a lawsuit against buprenorphine’s best-known manufacturer: Indivior, the British firm now accused of fraudulently marketing Suboxone as being safer than generic alternatives.
PBMs spend a record sum on lobbying; PhRMA taps a new GOP firm
The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, the trade group representing pharmacy benefit managers, spent a record-breaking $1.49 million on lobbying in the first quarter of 2019, according to a STAT analysis of the latest lobbying disclosures. The all-time record comes as the lobbying organization is vocally opposing a Trump administration proposal to ban certain rebates from drug companies to PBMs that could fundamentally threaten the industry’s business model.
Meanwhile, the drug manufacturer trade group PhRMA reported spending $9.91 million on lobbying in the first quarter of 2019, contracting 20 outside lobbying firms. (It’s a bit shy of the $9.96 million the group dropped in the same three-month span last year.)
PhRMA also became a launch client for Marshall and Popp, a firm founded by a pair of recent Capitol Hill alumni: former aides to Sens. Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn, who last year were the Senate’s first- and second-ranking Republicans, respectively.
One of PhRMA’s newest members spent big as well. The Bay Area drug giant Genentech spent $2.95 million in its first quarter since joining the advocacy organization, compared to $1.16 million for the same period last year. Genentech has never spent more than $1.8 million on lobbying in a single quarter, according to disclosures dating back to 1999.
Read more.
Meanwhile, the drug manufacturer trade group PhRMA reported spending $9.91 million on lobbying in the first quarter of 2019, contracting 20 outside lobbying firms. (It’s a bit shy of the $9.96 million the group dropped in the same three-month span last year.)
PhRMA also became a launch client for Marshall and Popp, a firm founded by a pair of recent Capitol Hill alumni: former aides to Sens. Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn, who last year were the Senate’s first- and second-ranking Republicans, respectively.
One of PhRMA’s newest members spent big as well. The Bay Area drug giant Genentech spent $2.95 million in its first quarter since joining the advocacy organization, compared to $1.16 million for the same period last year. Genentech has never spent more than $1.8 million on lobbying in a single quarter, according to disclosures dating back to 1999.
Read more.
For the job seekers out there
Scott Gottlieb wants a research assistant. How's your sock game?
Help Wanted! I'm seeking a research assistant at the American Enterprise Institute to work with me on health policy, ideally someone with an interest in the clinical aspects of policy and issues related to the practice of medicine. Apply here! https://t.co/RiEXBJa2Td— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) April 22, 2019
Worth your time
In the New York Times, Margot Sanger-Katz writes about how gun violence research — once a backwater because of low funding — is now booming, with more researchers studying the problem with resources from state governments and private donors. — Andrew JosephCould CAR-T therapies — which come with a sky-high price tag to match their cancer-fighting abilities — work for other health conditions, too? STAT takes a look. — Erin Mershon
MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ousted three Chinese scientists last week, the Houston Chronicle reported. It’s the latest step in a sweeping NIH investigation into foreign threats to U.S. research, but has also raised concerns of racial profiling. — Lev Facher
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