Senator Sanders to ask why drug, once free, now costs $375k
FEBRUARY 4, 2019 / 6:06 AM
Excerpts:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders plans to send a letter to Catalyst Pharmaceuticals (CPRX.O) on Monday asking it to justify its decision to charge $375,000 annually for a medication that for years has been available to patients for free.
The drug, Firdapse, is used to treat Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), a rare neuromuscular disorder, according to the letter, made available to Reuters by the senators office. The disorder affects about one in 100,000 people in the United States.
In the letter dated Feb. 4, Sanders asked Catalyst to lay out the financial and non-financial factors that led the company to set the list price at $375,000, and say how many patients would suffer or die as a result of the price and how much it was paying to purchase or produce the drug.
For years, patients have been able to get Firdapse for free from Jacobus Pharmaceuticals, a small New Jersey-based drug company, which offered it through a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) program called compassionate use.
The program allows patients with rare diseases and conditions access to experimental drugs outside of a clinical trial when there is no viable alternative.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-catalyst/senator-sanders-to-ask-why-drug-once-free-now-costs-375k-idUSKCN1PT0ZJ
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)Oh, I'm sorry. Guess I wandered into the wrong thread.
lark
(23,105 posts)He promotes good progressive policies most of the time, outside of gun laws. I do not think he makes a good representative for president given how he handles personal issues like not releasing tax returns and running as a Dem for president then switching, and now ostensibly wants to switch back again. That and the issues of sexism on his campaign have taken me off the Sanders for president train this time.
ROB-ROX
(767 posts)They let this happen and it affects the public. Just because a minority is robbed means it should have been PREVENTED. I am so glad there is a CHAMPION who is coming forward to resolve this EVIL situation. CHEERS
Donkees
(31,413 posts)SamKnause
(13,107 posts)DoctorJoJo
(1,134 posts).. so they do have compassion after all.