Hello, everyone, and welcome to the middle of the week. Congratulations on making it this far. It is, after all, an accomplishment worth noting. And now, the next step is to forge ahead. And why not? Just consider the alternatives. On that optimistic note, please join us for a needed cup or three of stimulation. Our choice today is, once again, honey almond, the latest addition to the Pharmalot pantry. Meanwhile, here are some items of interest to get you going. Have a wonderful day, and do drop us a line when you hear something juicy. …
A recent series of events highlights a key gap in policy efforts to make insulin available in the U.S. at affordable prices, STAT explains. A year ago, when Novo Nordisk announced it would cut the price of different insulins by up to 75%, President Biden, lawmakers, and patient groups all saw the move as a win. But Novo now plans to discontinue the basal insulin Levemir later this year in the U.S. and patients are already running into supply problems and insurance cutoffs, leaving them with few options. The problem: Even if officials can get drugmakers to cut prices, the companies can yank a drug off the market, without guaranteeing that other manufacturers will continue to make the compound.
Spending on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy ballooned last year and are set to cost the U.S. health care system and the federal government still more this year and beyond, STAT writes. One study from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists found that GLP-1 treatments were a main driver of the increase in overall drug spending by health entities such as pharmacies and hospitals last year. In particular, expenditures on Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide — sold as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity — doubled to $38.6 billion, making the drug the top-selling medicine in 2023.