And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Given the forecast, our agenda is modest. We expect to catch up on our reading, take a few naps, and promenade with the official mascots as often as possible. We also plan another listening party with Mrs. Pharmalot, and the rotation will likely include this, this, this, and this. And what about you? This is a fine time to enjoy the great indoors. So why not tidy up around your castle? When done, you could park yourself in front of the telly and watch a few moving picture shows. Of if you’re feeling old fashioned, you could pull out the Scrabble board. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
U.S. Senate health committee chair Bernie Sanders has taken a step toward subpoenaing the chief executive officers at Johnson & Johnson and Merck related to an investigation into high drug prices in the U.S., STAT writes. The step is highly unusual, since the health committee has not issued a subpoena in more than 40 years. Sanders (I-Vt.) invited the J&J and Merck executives, along with Bristol Myers Squibb chief executive officer Chris Boerner, to testify at a Jan. 25 hearing. But only Boerner agreed, and only if at least one other chief executive participated. Instead, Sanders will hold a committee vote on whether to issue the subpoenas and authorize a probe into drug costs on Jan. 31.
But Johnson & Johnson is accusing Sanders of retaliating against the company and others that sued the Biden administration to stop a program to negotiate how much Medicare pays for high-cost drugs, Bloomberg Law reports. The allegation appears in a letter that was written one week before Sanders announced the Senate health committee would vote on whether it would use subpoenas to force J&J and Merck CEOs to testify on U.S. drug prices. The committee’s actions raise “significant concerns that the hearing is intended as retribution” against companies suing the Biden administration over the Medicare negotiation program, the letter says.