Tuesday, September 19, 2023

AARP Argues Forcefully Against Merck’s Suit On Drug Price Negotiations…


Back on the grid. . . rested and ready. Grin.

And while in transit yesterday, AARP filed its amicus brief -- explaining why Merck's purported federal suit ought to be dismissed, in DC.

There simply is no legal US property right -- to avoid at least listening to government / customer initiated price negotiations, before they even begin. In any event, here is that filing, from yesterday, and a bit:

. . .[T]he list price of Januvia has increased by 275 percent since it entered the market in 2006, and the drug has accounted for $21.6 billion in Medicare Part D spending between 2017 and May 2023. . . .

Merck seeks to protect the pharmaceutical industry’s ability to charge unreasonable and astronomical prices at the expense of what people with chronic conditions need to survive. [Merck's] efforts threaten the financial health of Medicare. . . .


This is a medicine (Januvia) that, in many many cases, the lack of which will lead to. . . death, for diabetics. One that Merck has been profiting from, for 17 years already -- likely to the tune of over $60 billion, life to date. C'mon, man!

नमस्ते

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