Adam J. Fein
@DrugChannels
Expert insights from Dr. Adam J. Fein on pharmaceutical economics and the drug distribution system. Contact me at [emailย protected]
Wow! Well done, @Mattel ! ๐ ๐ ๐ @Barbie with Type 1 Diabetes Makes Her Debut, Comes with Pink Glucose Monitor and Insulin Pump drugch.nl/4nALQ7o
๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฒ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ฌโ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง'๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ 77% of employers consider managing the cost of GLP-1 medications โextremely/very importantโโmaking it the top pharmacy benefitโฆ
New @JNJInnovMed $JNJ report offers unprecedented transparency into #drug pricing & #GrossToNetBubble: - $47.8 B in rebates, discounts & fees for 2024 (+11.7% vs. 2023) - $14.7 B to comm'l payers & #PBMs (+9.7%) - $7.4 B to #340B providers (+23.3% !) ==> drugch.nl/4kRJVZJ
From @InformaConnect: Informa Connectโs Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Summit September 15-17, 2025 | Chicago, IL *** Promo code for discount: 25DRCH10 *** Details ==> drugch.nl/4lHTA5O #sponsored
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ New data from IQVIA paints a troubling picture: โก๏ธ After one year, 18% to 42% of new Medicare Part D patients still hadnโt gained approval for their originallyโฆ
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐-๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฌ: ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ญ? Ever since the IRA was passed, we've been pointing out the ever-growing unintended consequences of this hastily-passed law. One of the most significantโฆ
A troubling trend: Large insurers are denying a greater share of prescription drug claims. The usual suspects: @Cigna , @Aetna , @UHC , @ElevanceHealth , @Humana Caveats: Limited visibility into methodology or the reasons for denial. Source: @KomodoHealth @nytimesโฆ
Payer-operated practices are gaining in U.S. primary care. Vertically integrated insurers now account for 4.2% of total primary care in 2023, up from 0.8% in 2016. ๐In 3 large counties, Optum alone controls 35%โ45% of primary care. ๐ drugch.nl/4eDPs4s
๐ 340๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ Yikes! Only 3% to 5% of branded 340B prescriptions at retail and mail-order contract pharmacies were filled using a 340B drug discount card. Thatโsโฆ
Do self-funded employers really want government-driven PBM reform? @Mercer argues that state PBM laws "reduce employer autonomy" and "may increase costs.โ Thatโs why many plan sponsors arenโt lobbying Congress to regulate PBMs on their behalf. ๐ drugch.nl/4eW4nY8
๐จ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ & ๐๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฌ IQVIAโs latest analysis of ANDA approvals highlights a serious breakdown in getting lower-cost generics to patients: โ Only 63% of approved generics have actually launchedโฆ
๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ โ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ? A real-time prescription benefit (RTPB) tool should help patients and physicians make better medication decisions. But in a study of 2.8 million patients, implementation of RTPB tools did not leadโฆ
From @EVERSANAcompany: Rewriting the Access Script: A Pharmacistโs View on the Rise of Direct-to-Patient Learn more about EVERSANAโs Direct-to-Patient solution: drugch.nl/4li8MqD Read the article: drugch.nl/44qF90q #sponsored
Another biosimilar barrier? More than 1 in 8 patients who switched to a Humira biosimilar ended up switching back to original product. Switching back more common among older adults, women, & patients with RA and ankylosing spondylitis. Truveta Research drugch.nl/4kkpzYG
โWe think rebates are stupidโฆ but under 340B, our PBM doesnโt touch itโฆ and we are paying full price for the drug.โ Shawn Gremminger @ntlalliancehlth. Must-read article: drugch.nl/4liRPMH
