About pharma
Eisai complies with FDA request to pull weight-loss drug Belviq from US market due to possible cancer risk: The headline is self-explanatory. Diet drugs have a long history of post-launch problems.
FDA Guidance Seeks to Speed Reviews of Biosimilars for Fewer Conditions of Use: “As part of its ongoing efforts to encourage biosimilars, the FDA issued draft guidance on the agency’s abbreviated review pathway for sponsors of biosimilars with more limited conditions of use than the reference product.
The 351(k) abbreviated licensing pathway is designed to speed biosimilar approvals by using ‘less than a full complement of product-specific preclinical and clinical data,’ the agency noted.”
South Korean hospital successfully treats coronavirus patient with HIV drugs: “A South Korean hospital announced on Thursday that an HIV combination drug of lopinavir plus ritonavir showed effectiveness in treating a coronavirus patient.” Obviously, more research needs to be gathered.
The 20 Most Expensive Prescription Drugs in the U.S.A.: This article is an update on the most expensive prescription drugs. NOTE: The prices in the chart are per 30 days.
21 States Reject $18 Billion Offer From Drug Wholesalers to Settle Opioid Litigation: ”An $18 billion settlement offer from three major drug wholesalers aimed at resolving litigation over their alleged role in the opioid crisis appears to have fallen apart, after more than 20 state attorneys general rejected it in a letter sent to the companies’ law firms this week.”
Appeals court unanimously strikes down Medicaid work requirements: “In a unanimous decision that blocks the first state that had imposed work requirements, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that President Trump’s health officials had been ‘arbitrary and capricious’ in allowing Arkansas to launch a Medicaid program called ‘Arkansas Works’ two years ago.”
About healthcare IT
Patient Matching Hurt by Data Errors, Lack of Government Support: “The biggest contributors to duplicate medical records related to data issues, with 66 percent of respondents cited issues with data entry errors, while 46 percent said poor algorithms, and 42 percent blamed a lack of integration.” This problem makes a strong case for unique identifiers.
About health insurance
2018 Health Care Cost and Utilization: This report from the Health Care Cost Institute was just published. “This year’s report found that average annual health care spending for people with employer-sponsored insurance increased to an all-time high of $5,892 in 2018. From 2014 to 2018, spending grew 18.4%, and about three-quarters of the increase was due to growth in service prices. In 2018, there was a 1.8% uptick in the use of services.” Increased percentages in average price, utilization and total spending were all highest for prescription drugs.
Problems Paying Medical Bills, 2018: This just-published CDC study found that the “percentage of all persons who were in families having problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months decreased 4.5 percentage points from 19.7% in 2011 to 15.2% in 2015 and then decreased 1.0 percentage point from 2015 through 2018 (14.2%).”
About healthcare providers
Hospitals can be sued for battery when patients say 'stop,' appeals court rules: While the case deals with a hospital, one can assume the principle applies to other providers/organizations.
”The opinion was issued in a case against Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. The family of a terminal cancer patient sued the hospital for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleging X-ray technologists continued an exam after the patient asked them to stop.
The Massachusetts Superior Court ruled in favor of the hospital and other named defendants, and the plaintiffs appealed. On Feb. 11, the appeals court held that a patient saying ‘stop’ is enough to withdraw consent and give rise to a battery claim.”