Mark Cuban: Mixing Up the Pharmaceutical Landscape

“Along the way, the pharmacy benefit managers found that there was gold in those hills,” says Dr. Schweitz. “So not only could they effectively manage who got the drugs, but they could actually control how they were priced and take a percentage of each prescription for themselves.”

Dr. Schweitz says the system of PBMs evolved into one that created a tall financial wall that hindered physicians trying to get their patients the medications they need. In response, ATAP was founded to help educate policy makers about PBM pricing activities and advocate for legislation and regulation that would improve patient access to affordable prescription drugs.

“[Mr. Cuban] has done something else that ATAP has been trying to do, which is to educate the business community [about] how these PBM activities impact their employees’ prescriptions and their flow of dollars into the healthcare system,” says Dr. Schweitz.

When Cost Plus Drug launched in January 2022, CEO Alex Oshmyansky, MD, vowed the company would do whatever it takes to meet its mission to deliver affordable pharmaceuticals to patients.

“The markup on potentially lifesaving drugs that people depend on is a problem that can’t be ignored,” notes Dr. Oshmyansky in the release. “It is imperative that we take action and help expand access to these medications for those who need them most.”¹

Cost Plus Drug has announced partnerships or agreements with other companies in the industry, including Truepill, which fills and delivers prescriptions, and Rightway, a pharmacy benefit manager that uses a cell phone app to connect with customers.⁶

Mr. Cuban and Dr. Oshmyansky describe their new enterprise as a vertically integrated pharmacy benefits manager. In addition to working with other companies, they have plans to build a pharmaceutical factory in Dallas.

Dr. Popovian

It remains to be seen whether Mr. Cuban’s recent venture into the drug industry can change the financial sway of big PBMs. At least for now, small molecule drugs commonly prescribed by rheumatologists, such as methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, could become more affordable in the generic forms, notes Dr. Schweitz.

“I think it’s an important first step,” says Dr. Schweitz. “I’m hoping that he’s going to be able to build on it, and that ultimately our patients will have better access at lower costs for medications they need to treat their diseases.”

The CPD website currently lists only leflunomide under the section labeled Rheumatoid Arthritis medications. A general search under all medications also indicates that methotrexate is available for purchase through the company.