Democracy Now! reports that WikiLeaks has published another section of the secret text of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement — this one about public healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. The draft shows that the TPP would give major pharmaceutical companies more power over public access to medicine and weaken public healthcare programs.
US Hospitals Distributing Infant Formula Packs to Breastfeeding Mothers declines
A new report in Pediatrics found that the distribution of infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers declined markedly from 2007 to 2013. The percentage of hospitals distributing infant formula discharge packs to breastfeeding mothers was 72.6% in 2007 and 31.6% in 2013, a decrease of 41 percentage points.
Rising drug prices trigger civil war
A new study by the Kaiser Permanente Institute for Health Policy showed that pharmaceutical spending in the U.S. per capita reached $1,010 in 2012, almost double the per capita cost of Germany, the next highest spender. The Hill reports that price hikes have led the U.S. insurance industry to pick a fight with pharmaceutical companies over the rising cost of specialty drugs.
Pay Big Pharma to Develop New Antibiotics
A new report commissioned by UK Prime Minister David Cameron urges the government to fund big drug makers to develop new antibiotics to combat drug resistance.
California Supreme Court allows “pay-to-delay” suit to proceed
Consumer Law and Policy Blog reports that the California Supreme Court has revived antitrust suits against Bayer and Barr Laboratories. The cases stem from an agreement between brand-name manufacturer Bayer and generic manufacturer Barr, under which Bayer agreed to pay Barr $398.1 million in exchange for Barr postponing the sale of the generic version of Bayer’s antibiotic Cipro. Such agreements, called “pay-to-delay” agreements, have been frequently challenged under the antitrust laws.
Pharmaceutical Companies Buy Rivals’ Drugs, Then Jack Up the Prices
On Feb. 10, reports The Wall Street Journal, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. bought the rights to a pair of life-saving heart drugs. The same day, their list prices rose by 525% and 212%. Neither of the drugs, Nitropress or Isuprel, was improved as a result of costly investment in lab work and human testing, Valeant said. Nor was manufacture of the medicines shifted to an expensive new plant. The big change: the drugs’ ownership.
Australian public health advocates seek access to regional trade pact negotiations
The prime lobby group for American pharmaceutical manufacturers has been given privileged access to negotiations for a major regional trade pact that could see the cost of medicines skyrocket in Australia, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Public health advocates and business groups are concerned that pharmaceutical giants will be able to advance their commercial interests while the details of the pact are kept secret from the Australian public.
It’s true: Drug companies are bombarding your TV with more ads than ever
According to a column in the Washington Post, drug makers in 2014 spent $4.5 billion marketing prescription drugs, up from $3.5 billion in 2012. That’s also up from the $2.5 billion drug makers spent in 2000, or $3.39 billion in 2015 dollars when adjusted for inflation. The United States is just one of a few countries that allows drug companies to advertise directly to patients.
Drug companies accused of blocking access to cheap drugs
Access to cheap drugs which can prevent blindness is being blocked by pharmaceutical companies, a British Medical Journal investigation has alleged. The Daily Telegraph reports that BMJ describes how drug manufacturers are accused of attempting to derail trials which would show that a drug which costs just £65 a dose works just as well as current treatments sold to the NHS for more than ten times as much.
Judge Strikes Down Maine Law for Importing Prescription Medicines
In a blow to advocates who want to import medicines, a federal judge has invalidated a controversial Maine law that allows residents to buy prescription drugs from some foreign pharmacies, reports the Wall Street Journal. The Maine Pharmacy Act was enacted two years ago in response to the growing cost of prescription medicines.
Corporations and Health Watch 