FDA pins another 'breakthrough' badge on AbbVie's venetoclax; Express Scripts bats back at drugmakers on pricing
→ AbbVie $ABBV has collected a fifth breakthrough therapy designation for venetoclax as it climbs the blockbuster mountain with the apoptosis drug. The latest endorsement from the FDA covers venetoclax’s first-line use, in combination with obinutuzumab, in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Having just filed its sNDA, the company is expected to benefit from an expedited review soon.
→ Last week, various high profile, global drugmakers placed the blame for high out-of-pocket patient costs in the United States on the middlemen — pharmacy benefit managers — asserting that they are forced to hike the prices of prescription drugs in response to higher rebates that all-powerful PBMs negotiate at a hearing with US lawmakers. On Wednesday, the largest US PBM — Express Scripts $ESRX — shot back, suggesting the power to lower drug prices ultimately lies with the manufacturers. “We often have asked drug companies to simply lower their prices. Instead, drug companies have elected to increase prices and increase rebates. This is the option drug makers have chosen for themselves and for the marketplace,” the company said in a statement, praising Lilly’s $LLY decision earlier this week to release an authorized generic of its blockbuster Humalog insulin, carrying a 50% discount to the branded version. “We are in discussions with Eli Lilly about Humalog authorized alternative, and if the net cost is lowest for plans, we will add it to our Flex Formulary.”
Unlock this article instantly by becoming a free subscriber.
You’ll get access to free articles each month, plus you can customize what newsletters get delivered to your inbox each week, including breaking news.