Tamiflu Update

Prescriptions for Tamiflu have seen more than a 5-fold increase this flu season, compared to last year, according to GoodRx. “It appears to be the worst flu epidemic in years”. Parts of the Midwest are seeing a 10-fold increase. (Fortunately, a handful of states are not seeing widespread flu.) A shortage of the medication is a result of the high volume of prescriptions written for Tamiflu this year. Despite the surge of prescriptions, there are some doubts about whether Tamiflu is even effective for treatment or prevention. According to a study-of-studies, or meta-analysis performed by Cochrane Research, Tamiflu may provide a much smaller benefit than expected. At best, the analysis found that Tamiflu may only help patients recover one day faster, and may not reduce the number of flu-related complications, like pneumonia. Additionally, it may only reduce the risk of getting sick by 55%. At about $100 per prescription, for some, the benefits may not outweigh the cost. For an interactive map that shows the flu cases in each state, week-by-week, click here: https://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/fluview/main.html

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/supply-chain/tamiflu-prescriptions-up-640-from-last-year-3-things-to-know.html

https://www.goodrx.com/blog/tamiflu-prescriptions-reveal-shocking-flu-trend/

PBIRx has been exclusively providing intelligent solutions to clients in the management of pharmacy benefit costs since 1993. With a staff that includes IT personnel, actuaries, financial analysts, clinical pharmacists, attorneys, HIPAA Compliance Officers and many more experts, PBIRx’s mission is to create optimal health care outcomes while minimizing overall health care costs. For more information, please visit www.pbirx.com or call (888) 797-2479.

Albertsons to Purchase Rite Aid

Albertsons, a grocery chain with over 2500 stores in 37 states, announced on February 20, 2018 that it plans to acquire the remainder of the Rite Aid stores, the third-largest pharmacy chain. It will be acquiring those stores that were not part of the Walgreens purchase in January. This combined company will have about 4,900 locations, 4,350 pharmacy counters and 320 clinics across the U.S. The merger is set to close in the second half of the year. Most of Albertsons’ pharmacies will be rebranded as Rite Aid. The deal is aimed at competing with retail giant Amazon, which is eyeing its own entry into healthcare, as well as Walmart and CVS.

 This is a win for both companies: Rite Aid will get a buyer for the remainder of their stores; Albertsons will add new locations and size under growing pressure from online competitors. The two companies have a combined value of around $24B, including debt, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Walgreens expects to close the acquisition of nearly half of its rival’s stores in the spring. When this merger is complete, Walgreens will own about the same number of stores as archival CVS Health (9600).

Walgreens is also said to be in early-stage talks to acquire AmerisourceBergen, a drug wholesale company.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/20/albertsons-to-acquire-rite-aid-in-defense-move-against-amazon.html 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/02/20/albertsons-and-rite-aid-plan-merger-creates-u-s-supermarket-and-healthcare-giant/353958002/ 

PBIRx has been exclusively providing intelligent solutions to clients in the management of pharmacy benefit costs since 1993. With a staff that includes IT personnel, actuaries, financial analysts, clinical pharmacists, attorneys, HIPAA Compliance Officers and many more experts, PBIRx’s mission is to create optimal health care outcomes while minimizing overall health care costs. For more information, please visit www.pbirx.com or call (888) 797-2479.

New US Secretary of Health & Human Services

Alex Azar was confirmed as the US Secretary of Health & Human Services on January 24, 2018.  He served as the Deputy Secretary of Health & Human Services from 2005-2007, under President George W. Bush

In between these 2 appointments (2012-2017) Azar was president of the US division of Eli Lilly, one of the largest American pharmaceutical companies, which is based in Indiana, Mike Pence’s home state.  He was responsible for the entire company’s operations.  Prices under Azar rose dramatically; for example, Humalog’s price doubled in just those 5 years.  His new position bodes well for the pharmaceutical industry; it seems unlikely that Azar will push his former industry to lower prices.

However, if Azar does go after drug prices, he may focus on pharmacy benefit managers; Big Pharma likes to blame PBMs for rising costs.  At a minimum, insurers and pharmaceutical companies may soon get an experienced secretary familiar with how the HHS works. 

Rollcall.com has reported that since 2000, Azar spent about $105,000 in political contributions.

https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2017-11-13/hhs-secretary-nominee-alex-azar-a-friend-to-health-care-firms

https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/healthcare/10-things-to-know-about-trump-s-hhs-sec-nominee-alex-azar

https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/healthcare/10-things-to-know-about-trump-s-hhs-sec-nominee-alex-azar

PBIRx has been exclusively providing intelligent solutions to clients in the management of pharmacy benefit costs since 1993. With a staff that includes IT personnel, actuaries, financial analysts, clinical pharmacists, attorneys, HIPAA Compliance Officers and many more experts, PBIRx’s mission is to create optimal health care outcomes while minimizing overall health care costs. For more information, please visit www.pbirx.com or call (888) 797-2479.

Unapproved Opioid Cessation Products

On January 11, the FDA, as well as the Federal Trade Commission, posted joint warning letters to the marketers and distributors of 12 opioid cessation products, for illegally marketing unapproved products with claims about their ability to help in the treatment of opioid addiction and withdrawal.

This marketing can pose a serious health risk, as these products have not been demonstrated to be both safe and effective. Selling these products is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Reducing the number of Americans who are addicted to opioids has become a huge priority as there are currently 2 million people with an opioid use disorder. “Using products with unsubstantiated claims may prevent those addicted to opioids from seeking approved treatments that have been demonstrated to be safe and effective, delay their path to recovery, and put them at greater risk of death.”

The 11 companies who received warning letters are: Opiate Freedom Center (“Opiate Freedom 5-Pack”), U4Life, LLC (“Mitadone”), CalmSupport, LLC (“CalmSupport”), TaperAid (“TaperAid” & “TaperAid Complete”), Medicus Holistic Alternatives LLC (“Natracet”), NutraCore Health Products, LLC (“Opiate Detox Pro”), Healthy Healing, LLC (“Withdrawal Support”), Soothedrawal, Inc. (“Soothedrawal”), Choice Detox Center, Inc. (“Nofeel”), GUNA, Inc. (“GUNA-ADDICT 1”), and King Bio, Inc. (“AddictaPlex”).

The FDA and FTC have requested responses from each of the companies within 15 working days.

Read the FDA's official statement here.

PBIRx has been exclusively providing intelligent solutions to clients in the management of pharmacy benefit costs since 1993. With a staff that includes IT personnel, actuaries, financial analysts, clinical pharmacists, attorneys, HIPAA Compliance Officers and many more experts, PBIRx’s mission is to create optimal health care outcomes while minimizing overall health care costs. For more information, please visit www.pbirx.com or call (888) 797-2479.