Pharmaceutical Company CEOs Face Grilling in Senate Over High Drug Prices

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Lawmakers criticized pharmaceutical industry leaders during Senate testimony Tuesday, for failing to put patients before profits. The executives deflected blame over high drug prices to insurance companies and middlemen.

, whose list price has risen from $244 to $431 since 2013, according to the committee.

, R-Iowa, the committee's chairman."I've heard about people skipping doses of their prescription drugs to make them last until the next paycheck.""I think you and others in the industry are stonewalling on the key issue, which is actually lowering list prices," he said."Lowering those list prices is the easiest way for consumers to pay less at the pharmacy counter.

Several of the CEOs, under pressure from Grassley, said they would lower their list prices if that proposal is finalized and the rule applied to both government and commercial prescription drug plans. However, they said they don't want to see the government negotiating drug prices directly through Medicare, a proposal that has been"The government should not directly control the price of medicines either through federal government price controls or worse, outsourcing prices to other countries," Brandicourt said.of their products don't reflect what they actually make on those products, drugmakers have consistently enjoyed some of the highest profit margins of any industry.

"We need an American solution to this American challenge," said Taubert of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen unit.

 

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EdSkipper EndBigPharma

Bro it's called capitalism, there's a reason money is all powerful in our society

The high cost are their advertising budgets. Why is the US and NZ the only two countries who allow direct to consumer advertising? Does NZ also have exorbitant drug prices?

We need 1. True transparency-all costs on the table for all to see & 2. True competition. The restrictions that keep players out of the marketplace form the foundation for excess profits.

...but our research costs...LIVES

Absolute Gaslighting CEO’s claim if congress puts any controls in place it would risk R&D You mean the R&D the taxpayers fund through the NIH? You mean that funding that never translates into lower drug costs - just profits for big pharma?

Why would they? Our system rewards profit-making above all else. Shareholders need value and executives exorbitant remuneration lest it be perceived as socialist endeavor...

Big Pharma is a joke and it's a rip off

If I could charge whatever I want for my product devoid of any regulation or ramifications... I would- welcome to the world of U S pharmaceutical sales

They seem to think that you need their drugs to survive, so why not take advantage, you need the med right...

The keep changing the composition of the brand meds so the generic drug seem less effective. Of course, it's competition, profit, greed

They have a lot of political support and lobbying power. They charge a price on living, just as most Drs. But the govt allowed this!!!

Told PFE colleagues a decade ago, when US gov't pays 50% of drug costs, it won't negotiate pricing, but dictate pricing.. - 7 drug firm CEOs forced to defend industry pricing and business practices on Capitol Hill; criticized for 'profits before patients'

They did poorly, giving lousy excuses for their actions. Sadly they are also major influence peddlers paying billions in bribes/campaign donations that allow them to do whatever they want.

Capitalism 101.

Greed...what ELSE is new? Glad to see how 'well' the Free Market is 'working' t lower healthcare cost overall!

Annddddddd nothing will come of it. Absolutely nothing.

been a hippister.

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