March 28, 2011—Four new studies—by an investment bank, a research firm, a health insurer and a congressional agency—conclude that brand-name drug prices have been outpacing inflation by a wide margin while generic drugs prices have been either falling or holding steady. U.S. House Democrats who commissioned one of the reports say the findings warrant a congressional … [Read more...]
Biogen Idec and Santarus to Provide 340B Refunds
Affected products include Biogen's blockbuster drug for multiple sclerosis.March 16, 2011—The manufacturer of Avonex, a leading treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), has informed the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) that it will be repaying 340B covered entities for overcharges on the biotech drug during the fourth quarter of 2000 through the first quarter of 2008. The company, Biogen Idec, also told OPA that it was sending … [Read more...]
Record Number of Orphan Drugs Are Under Development
Growth points to manufacturers' embrace of sector as a moneymaker.March 8, 2011—A record 460 orphan drugs are in late-stage development in the United States, either in clinical trials or awaiting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review, according to a new report by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). That's a roughly 50 percent increase above the number under development in 2007 and about three and a half times … [Read more...]
Staff Departures Are Compounding OPA’s Budget Problem
Four open positions can't be filled due to hiring freeze.March 8, 2011—The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) is down three staff members from its all-time high of 19 in December and is losing a fourth at the end of this week. The departures reportedly are hitting the office hard, as it is under an informal hiring freeze given ongoing uncertainty about its budget. OPA's spending for the current fiscal will run out on March 18 and it … [Read more...]
Nearly $400 Million in Earmarks Carved from HRSA’s Budget
OPA's funding remains at $2.2 million through March 18.March 4, 2011—President Obama has signed a two-week temporary spending bill for the federal government that cuts roughly $400 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) budget. Funding for the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) remains steady at $2.2 million under the bill, which expires on March 18. The millions erased from HRSA's budget were for … [Read more...]
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The Drug Discount Monitor is now producing an enhanced print edition four times a year. It's replacing our old monthly edition.March 2, 2011 - The Drug Discount Monitor is now producing an enhanced print edition four times a year. It's replaced our old monthly newsletter and gives you a compilation of our best recent online articles. Please contact Tom Mirga attom.mirga@340binformed.associationbreeze.com or 202-552-5853 to let us know if you want to receive the quarterly print edition by mail for a … [Read more...]
OPA Scales Back 340B Technical Assistance
Pulls the plug on toll-free calls for manufacturers and other non-provider stakeholders.March 2, 2011 - The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) announced major cutbacks in its technical assistance (TA) program yesterday. OPA Director Krista Pedley warned last month that the cuts were coming, saying that they were being forced by the drug discount program's expansion without a corresponding increase in funding. "In order to maximize existing limited … [Read more...]