External reference drug pricing could save medicare tens of billions

medicalxpress | May 06, 2019

A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that prices for brand-name prescription drugs averaged 3.2 to 4.1 times higher in the U.S. when compared with prices in the United Kingdom, Japan and the Canadian province of Ontario. The study also found that the longer the brand-name prescription drug was on the market, the greater the price differential. If the Medicare program used the same prices as these other countries, the estimated savings to Medicare Part D would have been almost $73 billion in 2018 alone, the study found. Medicare Part D is an optional prescription drug benefit, available to Medicare beneficiaries for a premium and administered by private insurance companies.

Spotlight

Injection systems that are attached to the patient's body (on-body delivery system OBDS) minimize possible risks, that can occur when drugs are administered by conventional needle-based injection systems (NIS). 

Spotlight

Injection systems that are attached to the patient's body (on-body delivery system OBDS) minimize possible risks, that can occur when drugs are administered by conventional needle-based injection systems (NIS). 

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Business Insights, PHARMA TECH

Endo Launches Bivalirudin Injection in Ready-to-Use Vials

PRNewswire | July 19, 2023

Endo International plc announced that its Par Sterile Products business has begun shipping bivalirudin injection in a ready-to-use 250 mg/50 mL single-use vial. It is the only ready-to-use liquid format of bivalirudin on the market in the U.S. "Hospital practitioners work hard to provide quality patient care while also meeting operational challenges," said Scott Sims, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Injectable Solutions & Generics at Endo. "With ready-to-use products like bivalirudin, we're helping to deliver solutions that reduce complexity for healthcare providers—so they can focus on patient care." In May 2023, Endo executed agreements with MAIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Gland Pharma Limited, India to commercialize ready-to-use bivalirudin in the U.S. The product, manufactured by Gland Pharma Limited, is an anticoagulant (thrombin inhibitor) that helps prevent the formation of blood clots. It is used to prevent blood clots in people with severe chest pain or other conditions who are undergoing an angioplasty procedure. Ready-to-use, or RTU, products streamline operations for hospitals by eliminating the need to prepare or transfer the product before patient administration. This may reduce waste and costs, optimize convenience and workflow and reduce the chance for preparation error—all of which support quality patient care DRUG INTERACTIONS In clinical trials in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), co-administration of bivalirudin with heparin, warfarin, thrombolytics, or GPls was associated with increased risks of major bleeding events compared to patients not receiving these concomitant medications. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Geriatric Use In studies of patients undergoing PCI, 44% were ≥65 years of age and 12% of patients were ≥75 years old. Elderly patients experienced more bleeding events than younger patients. Renal Impairment The disposition of bivalirudin was studied in PTCA patients with mild, moderate and severe renal impairment. The clearance of bivalirudin was reduced approximately 21% in patients with moderate and severe renal impairment and was reduced approximately 70% in dialysis- dependent patients. The infusion dose of bivalirudin injection may need to be reduced, and anticoagulant status monitored in patients with renal impairment. INDICATION AND USAGE Bivalirudin injection is indicated for use as an anticoagulant in patients undergoing PCI, including patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis syndrome. About Endo Endo is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to helping everyone we serve live their best life through the delivery of quality, life-enhancing therapies. Our decades of proven success come from passionate team members around the globe collaborating to bring treatments forward. Together, we boldly transform insights into treatments benefiting those who need them, when they need them.

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Pharmacy Market

European Medicines Agency Accepts Novaliq’s Marketing Authorization Application for CyclASol® 0.1% for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease

businesswire | August 25, 2023

Novaliq GmbH, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics, announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the marketing authorization application (MAA) for CyclASol (ciclosporin ophthalmic solution) for regulatory review. CyclASol is an investigational new drug treatment for dry eye disease in patients not responding to tear substitutes. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the EMA will start its review of the MAA under the centralized procedure for all 27 member states of the European Union (EU). Dry eye disease (DED) affects millions of people in Europe and is one of the most common ocular surface disorders. A leading cause of DED is inflammation of the ocular surface. The chronic inflammatory nature causes progressive corneal surface damage that can lead to direct or indirect visual impairment. In the EU only one drug therapy limited to a subset of DED patients with severe keratitis is currently approved. CyclASol is ciclosporin, solubilized in a novel, water-free excipient and was designed to address unmet needs, providing patients with a fast acting and well tolerable dry eye drug therapy. Dispensed in a unique 10 microliter small drop the solution does not contain water or anti-microbial preservatives, oils or surfactants. As a water-free product, there is no associated pH and no osmolarity. “Our in Heidelberg, Germany, invented water-free technology was designed to unfold the full potential of pharmaceuticals on the ocular surface,” said Christian Roesky, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Novaliq. “The acceptance of the EU Marketing Authorization Application is a key milestone in our global efforts to address high unmet needs to better serve patients suffering from dry eye disease. We look forward to collaborating with the CHMP throughout the review process and hope to make CyclASol available for patients in Europe.” The clinical development program for the MAA is based on six clinical studies, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of CyclASol in a total of 1,575 patients with dry eye disease. Results from the two registrational studies, ESSENCE-1 and ESSENCE-2 consistently demonstrated that the product is effective for the treatment of DED. Continued improvement under therapy in both signs and symptoms of DED has been clinically demonstrated over a period of up to 56 weeks in an extension study of ESSENCE‑2. With its early onset of effect and its good tolerability profile CyclASol addresses unmet medical needs in DED. CyclASol was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as VEVYE™ (cyclosporine ophthalmic solution) 0.1% for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease on May 30, 2023. VEVYE is the first and only FDA approved cyclosporine solution indicated for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease with efficacy demonstrated after 4 weeks of treatment and is commercialized in Northern America by Harrow Health Inc, a leading U.S. eyecare pharmaceutical company. About Novaliq Novaliq is a private biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on EyeSol® the worldwide first water-free ophthalmic technology. Novaliq offers an industry-leading portfolio addressing today's unmet medical needs of millions of patients with eye diseases based on its proprietary water-free eyedrop technology. On May 18th, 2023, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved MIEBO™ (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution; formerly known as NOV03) followed by the approval of VEVYE™ (cyclosporine ophthalmic solution, development name CyclASol®) 0.1% on May 30th, 2023.

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PHARMACY MARKET, PHARMA TECH

Kindeva Drug Delivery, Chiesi Group, and H&T Presspart Announce Strategic Partnership for Dose Counter Technology Production

Businesswire | July 12, 2023

Kindeva Drug Delivery, a global leader in contract drug delivery development and manufacturing services and technology, and H&T Presspart (a division of the Heitkamp & Thumann Group), a market leader in respiratory drug delivery systems design, development, and manufacturing, are partnering with Chiesi Group, an international research-focused biopharmaceutical and healthcare group, for the installation of a production line for dose counter (DC) and dose indicator (DI) devices. Combining the specific expertise of each partner, H&T Presspart will manufacture Kindeva Drug Delivery’s dose counters under license for Chiesi Group for their pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) portfolio. This partnership is a continuation of the agreement signed in 2014 between Kindeva Drug Delivery and H&T Presspart to accelerate the growth of Kindeva Drug Delivery’s dose counter technology. This technology enhances patient safety by providing real-time information on the remaining doses in inhalers, preventing unexpected shortages. H&T Presspart will expand the cleanroom facilities at their Marsberg, Germany, site to support the dose counter production. As part of this strategic partnership, Chiesi Group will use dose counters in their innovative carbon minimal pMDI portfolio, which uses a low Global Warming Potential (GWP) propellant to minimize the climate impact of the inhalers, while maintaining all the therapeutic options that patients suffering from respiratory diseases need. David Stevens, global chief commercial officer of Kindeva Drug Delivery, stated: “Kindeva is pleased to extend this strategic partnership as it solidifies our core objective of improving the lives of patients around the world. Kindeva embraces the responsibility it has in ensuring that patients who depend upon our device technology are reliably supplied, and we believe that this innovative supply chain collaboration further underscores this commitment.” Roberto Della Valle, head of global direct procurement of Chiesi Group, added: “Chiesi, with its patient-centric approach, is dedicated to delivering therapeutic solutions that enhance patients’ health and quality of life. Collaborating with Kindeva and H&T Presspart exemplifies this commitment, and we are thrilled to take this step forward. By providing an inhaler that reassures patients about the remaining dose count, we aim to enhance their safety and confidence.” Christian Kraetzig, president of H&T Presspart, commented: “With our expertise in device industrialization and manufacturing, this agreement marks another step in our journey to becoming a leading development and contract manufacturing partner in drug delivery devices.” About Kindeva Drug Delivery Kindeva Drug Delivery is a global contract development manufacturing organization focused on drug-device combination products. Kindeva Drug Delivery develops and manufactures products across a broad range of complex drug-delivery formats, including injectables (autoinjector, intradermal, microneedle), pulmonary & nasal, and transdermal patches. Its service offering spans early-stage feasibility through commercial scale drug product fill-finish, container closure system manufacturing, and drug-device product assembly. Kindeva Drug Delivery serves a global client base from its nine manufacturing and research and development facilities located in the U.S. and U.K. About Chiesi Group Chiesi is an international, research-focused biopharmaceuticals group that develops and markets innovative therapeutic solutions in respiratory health, rare diseases, and specialty care. The company’s mission is to improve people’s quality of life and act responsibly towards both the community and the environment. By changing its legal status to a Benefit Corporation in Italy, the US, and France, Chiesi’s commitment to create shared value for society as a whole is legally binding and central to company-wide decision-making. As a certified B Corp since 2019, we’re part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact. The company aims to reach Net-Zero greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by 2035. With over 85 years of experience, Chiesi is headquartered in Parma (Italy), operates in 31 countries, and counts more than 6,500 employees.

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