Tag

Access To Medicine

All articles tagged with #access to medicine

business1 month ago•39 min saved

Keytruda's fortress: Merck's patent-and-pricing empire under global scrutiny

An ICIJ investigation shows Merck’s Keytruda has become one of the world’s best-selling drugs not just because of therapeutic value but due to an expansive patent portfolio (more than 1,200 filings in 53 countries), lobbying, and pricing tactics that raise costs for patients worldwide while governments and insurers struggle to fund access; the report details price disparities, secrecy, accelerated approvals, and strategic moves like drug-dosing and product hopping that help Merck extend monopoly into the 2030s, with patients in India, Guatemala, the U.S. and elsewhere paying vast out-of-pocket or facing restricted access.

via International Consortium of Investigative Journalists - ICIJ|

#access-to-medicine #business #drug-pricing

health2 years ago•3 min saved

Celebrities Advocate for Affordable HIV Drug in Low-Income Nations

Celebrities, former world leaders, and a Nobel prize-winning scientist have urged Gilead Sciences to make its "gamechanger" HIV drug, Lenacapavir, affordable and accessible to low and middle-income countries. The drug, which can treat HIV with just two injections a year, is currently only available in wealthy countries at a high cost. Campaigners argue that making the drug widely available could help end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Gilead is in discussions with various stakeholders to develop an access model for broader distribution.

via The Guardian|

#access-to-medicine #gilead-sciences #global-health

healthcare-pharmaceuticals2 years ago•2 min saved

"Study Reveals Shocking Disparity in Cost of Diabetes Drugs"

A new study suggests that pharmaceutical companies are pricing diabetes medicines, including modern insulin pens and GLP-1 receptor agonists, at nearly 400 times the level necessary to make a profit. The study found that these drugs could be sold at a profit for as little as $0.89 a month, but are currently priced between $38.21 and $353.74. The research, published by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), highlights the unaffordability of these drugs in many parts of the world, despite rising rates of diabetes. The study calls for pharmaceutical companies to prioritize affordability and access to these life-saving medications, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

via The Guardian|

#access-to-medicine #diabetes #drug-pricing

health2 years ago•8 min saved

"Debate Over $4.25 Million Gene Therapy for Rare Disease"

A new gene therapy called Lenmeldy has been approved by the US FDA for the rare and fatal genetic disorder metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), with a wholesale price of $4.25 million, making it the world's most expensive medicine. The therapy, which uses stem cells and a harmless virus to insert working copies of a faulty gene, has shown long-term benefits for children with MLD. While the high cost reflects the significant benefits, it raises concerns about access and affordability, especially for public and private health insurance plans. The approval of Lenmeldy represents a significant advancement in treating rare diseases, but its exorbitant price may strain the ability of insurers to cover its costs and limit patient access.

via CNN|

#access-to-medicine #expensive-drug #fda-approval