“Patient advocacy groups urge U.S. court to halt overseas prescription drug operations”
KEY POINTS
Patient advocates are asking a federal appeals court to crack down on third-party vendors that obtain prescription drugs from overseas for U.S. patients, arguing the practice exposes them to unsafe supply chains and undermines U.S. drug safety standards.
The court filing follows a CNBC investigation that detailed how these third-party vendors have spread across U.S. employer-sponsored health plans by sourcing high-cost drugs from abroad to cut costs for employers, even as federal officials warn the practice is illegal.
The filing was submitted in a lawsuit brought by Gilead Sciences, which alleges these third-party vendors shipped Gilead HIV drugs from Turkey through an unsafe supply chain.
I think this sounds like a case of Gilliad not wanting groups to purchase grey market products from other countries where they price the products differently (lower for other countries than the USA).
The official insurance market for Healthcare in the US is so broken that it’s affecting other countries. Legal solutions will probably incentivize the expansion of an alternative underground market.
There was a US Supreme Court decision a few years back regarding college textbooks. Thanks to that decision I was able to purchase my textbooks outside the US for an average of $15 each instead of $600 each in the US for the same book. Many aspects of the economy are governed by cartels. We do need safe and accountable supply chains, but that does not excuse rapacious behavior.
In my view and opinion this translates to an AstroTurf group of Gilead Sciences. As this(punching outside of the US) is financially uncomfortable to Gilead Sciences bottom line and they have to get government help to stop the financial loss.
Funding Patient Advocacy Groups: Testimony submitted to the Oregon Legislature alleged that the Cascade AIDS Project (CAP), funded principally by Gilead, acts as an “astro-turf” patient advocacy group. The testimony claimed CAP weaponizes LGBT activists to push policies that benefit Gilead, using funds generated through a specific pharmacy program for political lobbying and other expenses.
Industry-Wide Practice: Reports and articles suggest that the use of “astroturf” groups is a common tactic across the pharmaceutical industry to influence public opinion and legislation regarding drug pricing and other policies. These groups often have noble-sounding names, such as “Patients Rising” or “Alliance for Patient Access,” but are actually funded by drug companies to act on their behalf.
Lobbying Efforts: Gilead engages in significant lobbying efforts, both in-house and through outside firms, to advance its interests before government bodies. The “astroturf” groups are considered part of this broader anti-drug pricing influence campaign, putting corporate messages on the airwaves under the guise of grassroots movements.
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing and commercializing antiviral drugs for diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. The company is also a major funder of philanthropic HIV programs in the U.S. and supports various types of externally sponsored research by independent researchers.
What, you don’t believe Patients Rising demanding drug prices be increased is not composed of real patients?
Yes, underhanded lobbying is rife. Reminds me of those emails companies send when they increase prices claiming they are responding to customers wishes. Somehow you never meet those customers clamoring for higher prices.