WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Two U.S. lawmakers have called on privately held Marathon Pharmaceuticals LLC to explain how it came to price its newly approved drug to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy at $89,000 a year when patients have for decades been able to acquire it overseas for as little as $1,000. The drug, Emflaza, known generically as deflazacort,…
U.S. Senators Question Kaleo’s $4,500 tag on Opioid Overdose Treatment
(Reuters)—U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) on Thursday asked Kaleo Pharmaceuticals to justify the more than 550% surge in the price of its device to treat opioid overdoses, becoming the second senator to question Evzio’s $4,500 price tag. Evzio contains the overdose-reversing drug naloxone and can be used in emergencies by people without medical training. Privately…
Japan PM’s Advisers Urge Annual Review of Drug Prices
TOKYO (Reuters)—Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic advisers, hoping to curb Japan’s ballooning healthcare costs, proposed on Wednesday reforms to the way drug prices are set, a step opposed by foreign and domestic drug makers who say the changes will stifle investment. The proposals follow a decision to halve the price of Bristol Myers Squibb Co’s…