The Missouri Pharmacy Association is examining the latest deal President Trump has reached with the pharmaceutical industry. Nine drug makers — Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Merck, Novartis, and Sanofi — have agreed to lower prices to those paid by patients in other developed countries.
Missouri Pharmacy CEO Ron Fitzwater said he likes what he sees regarding bringing back drug manufacturing to the U.S.
“Well, I think what they’re looking for is we have experienced, like most states around the country, periodic drug shortages and inability for some pharmacists to be able to acquire product,” he told Missourinet. “I know some of that (happened) during some of the trade activities that were going on.”
The nine drug manufacturers have committed to investing $150 billion to boost production of prescription medicines in the U.S. as part of their deal with the Trump Administration. The drop in prices will vary based on the drug and the manufacturer.
Meanwhile, the lower prices will so far only be available for prescription drugs purchased directly through TrumpRX, which is expected to go live next year.
They include the following, according to whitehouse.gov:
- Amgen will reduce the price of its cholesterol-lowering drug Repatha from $573 to $239 for patients purchasing directly through TrumpRx.
- Bristol Myers Squibb will reduce the price of its HIV medication, Reyataz, from $1,449 to $217 for patients purchasing directly through TrumpRx.
- Boehringer Ingelheim will reduce the price of its type two diabetes medication, Jentadeuto, from $525 to $55 for patients purchasing directly through TrumpRx.
- Genentech will reduce the price of its flu medication, Xofluza, from $168 to $50 for patients purchasing directly through TrumpRx.
- Gilead Sciences will reduce the price of its Hepatitis C medication, Epclusa, from $24,920 to $2,425 for patients purchasing directly through TrumpRx.
- GSK will reduce the prices of its inhaler portfolio. Prices for the popular asthma inhaler Advair Diskus 500/50 will fall from $265 to $89 for patients purchasing directly through TrumpRx.
- Merck will reduce the price of its diabetes medication, Januvia, from $330 to $100 for patients purchasing directly through TrumpRx.
- Novartis will reduce the price of its Multiple Sclerosis medication, Mayzent, from $9,987 to $1,137 for patients purchasing directly through TrumpRx.
- Sanofi will reduce the price of its prescription blood thinner, Plavix, from $756 to $16 for patients purchasing directly through TrumpRx and Sanofi will list its insulin products at TrumpRx at $35 per month’s supply.
Fitzwater told Missourinet it’s about time there were lower prices for these drugs.
“We will take a look at it,” he said. “I mean, obviously, anything that we can do to lower prices for patients is a bonus. And, you know, it’s always the devil (is) in the details. And like I say, our national associations are trying to assess the impact.”
But Fitzwater also said his group’s biggest concern is the role pharmacy benefit managers may have on drug prices and whether they’ll go along with the Trump Administration or push back.
“Most everyday Missourians don’t understand the impact that (pharmacy benefit managers) have on costs and the availability of drugs, and on the availability of pharmacies and pharmacists to be able to deliver them,” he said.
According to the American Medical Association, pharmacy benefit managers function as middlemen, overseeing prescription benefits for both employers and insurance companies.
In a statement, CVS Caremark has voiced support for some of Trump’s reforms but opposes his administration’s plans to directly sell prescription drugs to consumers through Trump-RX – which would compete directly with CVS Caremark.
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