Arthur Allen

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CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE CC BY-SA 4.0 (COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG/WIKI/FILE:PAXLOVID.JPG)

Why Covid patients who could most benefit from Paxlovid still aren’t getting it

Pfizer's post-pandemic $1,390 list price for the medicine is causing sticker shock, and patients who qualify for free doses often don't realize it or know how to get it

Mar 14, 2024

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David Mitchell, founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs, sits in his home office. Beside him are some of the many drugs he takes to treat multiple myeloma and other conditions. | ARTHUR ALLEN/KFF HEALTH NEWS

Patients see first savings from Biden’s drug price push, as Pharma lines up its lawyers

The restructuring of Medicare Part D, which covers most retail prescription drugs, is already lowering costs for many Medicare patients who spent more than $3,500 a year on their Part D drugs

Feb 18, 2024

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AKKALAK AIEMPRADIT/SHUTTERSTOCK

A new test could save arthritis patients time, money, and pain. But will it be used?

Dec 21, 2023

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KRISTIAN FODEN-VENCIL/OPB

Biden administration’s limit on drug industry middlemen backfires, pharmacists say

In the wake of a Medicare rule change pharmacists are being hit with draconian cuts to their payments for dispensing medicines

Nov 15, 2023

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Humira is made by the biomedical giant Abbvie; its logo is shown here on a billboard in Jakarta, Indonesia. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Save billions or stick with Humira? Drug brokers steer Americans to the costly choice

Challengers to Humira could save the health care system $9 billion and herald savings from the whole class of drugs

Sep 21, 2023

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Leqembi, the first drug purporting to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, is likely to cost the U.S. health care system billions annually even as it remains out of reach for many of the low-income seniors most likely to suffer from dementia. | COURTESY EISAI CO.

The real costs of the new Alzheimer’s drug, most of which will fall to taxpayers

In addition to the company’s $26,500 annual price tag for the drug, the treatments it requires could cost U.S. taxpayers $82,500 per patient per year

Aug 2, 2023

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Why the next big hope for Alzheimer’s might not help most Black patients

This week the FDA is expected to approve what many scientists and doctors believe is the first drug to show promise of slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease

Jul 6, 2023

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Drugmakers are abandoning cheap generics, and now US cancer patients can’t get meds

Drug shortages are forcing doctors and patients to contemplate untested rationing plans for breast, cervical, bladder, ovarian, lung, testicular and other cancers

Jun 22, 2023

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AREK SOCHA/PIXABAY

A more aggressive FTC is targeting drug mergers and industry middlemen

The new strategy is part of the Biden administration’s push for lower drug prices at the pharmacy counter

May 23, 2023

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U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. | LOUIS VELAZQUEZ/UNSPLASH

PBMs, the brokers who control drug prices, finally get Washington’s attention

Sen. Bernie Sanders’ health committee grilled a panel of PBM and pharmaceutical executives Wednesday in preparation for a vote on PBM legislation, expected Thursday

May 11, 2023