Drug importation proposals threaten one drug maker more than others

The Trump administration yesterday fleshed out proposed rules to begin to allow states to import certain medicines from Canada in an attempt to help reduce drug costs. Some states, including Florida and Colorado, have already released plans to begin drug importation. But not all drug makers are poised to be affected in the same way if and when the rules eventually go into effect. For example, makers of insulin, which states won't be able to import, won’t be threatened. Other companies, especially those that make high-priced HIV and hepatitis C drugs, are likely to be hardest hit. In fact, of the 16 drugs that Florida has said it wants to import, more than half are HIV and hep C drugs. And Gilead, which has staked a lot of its business on both these drugs, is likely to be especially hurt by the new rules. Read more here.