Analysis

On March 5, 2019, Drug Channels Institute will release The 2019 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers.

This new tenth edition is the most comprehensive, fact-based tool for understanding the entire U.S. drug pricing and distribution system.

The 2019 edition has been significantly expanded and restructured since last year’s edition. We have added new industry data sources, deepened our coverage of many topics, and added more trending information. There are also 2 new chapters and many new exhibits.


This year, we are providing you with the opportunity to preorder this thoroughly updated and revised 2019 edition at special discounted prices. This means that you can be among the first to access our new report. Those who preorder will receive a download link before March 5.

You can pay online with all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) or via PayPal. Click here to email us if you would like to pay by corporate purchase order or check.

Special pricing discounts will be valid through March 22, 2019.

As always, thank you for your interest in our work. If you have any questions before purchasing a license to the report, please email me. Enjoy!

Last week, Express Scripts released its 2018 Drug Trend Report. (Free download.)

As you will see below, drug spending is not “skyrocketing” or “soaring.” All payer types experienced extremely low growth in pharmacy benefit spending. Average net (post-rebate) drug costs declined.

These data also shed light on specialty drug spending. Greater use of specialty medications—not cost increases—was the most significant driver of spending.

The latest Express Scripts data confirm the cost and spending slowdown that I have highlighted in previous Drug Channels articles. I’ll ask again: Can someone please alert the media and our elected officials?

Meanwhile, the report dodges crucial questions about the effect on patients. Overall drug spending is growing very slowly—but the sickest Americans are stuck paying ever-higher out-of-pocket costs for drugs with net prices that are flat or declining. That's worse than getting an empty box of chocolates for Valentine's Day.

Expanded Access Programs 2019

March 27-28, 2019 | The Inn at Penn | Philadelphia, PA

www.cbinet.com/EAP

CBI’s Expanded Access Programs 2019 focuses on the design, development and practical implementation of early access programs. The summit convenes top industry stakeholders and regulators to examine current approaches in providing investigational, pre-launch or end-of-lifecycle drugs to patients for treatment purposes. A multi-stakeholder faculty will address key issues affecting EAPs and review the potential impact of the evolving legislative landscape.

Join Expert Thought Leaders Including:

• Marcel van Kuijck, Vice President UltraPrograms, Global Medical Affairs, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
• Tom Watson, Executive Vice President, Early Access Programs, Bionical
• Naomi Lopez Bauman, Director of Healthcare Policy, Goldwater Institute
• Sharon Ellison, DUHS IRB Chair; pharmacist, Duke University Hospital
• Gretchen M. Randlett, Consultant – Clinical Trial Commercial Product Strategy and Process, Eli Lilly and Company
• Alison Bateman-House, Ph.D., MPH, MA, Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Ethics, NYU Langone Health; Co-Director, NYU School of Medicine Working Group on Compassionate Use and Preapproval Access (CUPA)
• Dawn Sullivan, Department Manager, Global Medical Affairs & UltraPrograms, EAPs/ISTs, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
• Erika Segear, Ph.D., RAC, Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs, Duke University

Key Topics to Be Addressed:

• Implement practical guidelines for responding to inquiries around Right to Try
• Assess whether there is an opportunity to seek reimbursement through traditional payer channels
• Navigate the development process of sibling Early Access Programs
• Bring the patient voice into the development of Early Access Programs
• Learn how global organizations are handling new legislation on patient privacy
• Explore how crowd funding bridges Right to Try, stem cell and new frontiers
• Discuss post-clinical trial access when a program does not meet endpoints

This multi-stakeholder event is focused on U.S. and global models for a variety of access management programs, including, but not limited to:
Expanded Access Programs, Early Access Programs, Compassionate Use Programs, Named Patient Programs and Managed Access Programs.

Visit www.cbinet.com/EAP for more information.


*Applies to standard rates only and may not be combined with other offers, category rates, promotions or applied to an existing registration. Offer not valid on workshop only or academic/non-profit registrations.

---

The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal published my op-ed: Don’t Blame Drug Prices on ‘Big Pharma’. The article text is pasted below for those who don't subscribe.

I wrote this piece for a general business audience, though my arguments about rebates and patient out-of-pocket costs will be familiar to regular readers of Drug Channels. Alas, I had to omit such insider terms as gross-to-net bubble, direct and indirect remuneration, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

A personal note: I have been reading the WSJ daily since I was 18 years old. It’s a genuine thrill to see my byline on an op-ed in this newspaper. Another item off my bucket list!

Partnering with IDNs BioPharma Strategy Summit West
March 20-21, 2019 | Scottsdale, AZ
www.cbinet.com/IDN

As part of an evolving healthcare environment, the life science industry is continually challenged to be effective in how it engages health system partners. It is critical that discussions evolve to meet the needs of today and also where healthcare is headed tomorrow.

To address the challenges and opportunities ahead, join a distinguished group of industry pioneers at CBI’s Partnering with IDNs BioPharma Strategy Summit West – an important event for learning how to best meet the needs of these evolving networks for better patient outcomes.



Diverse Perspectives from Industry Pioneers:

• Matthew Portch, Vice President, Managed Markets, Sunovion
• Marla Weigert, Vice President, System Pharmacy Services, President, Dignity Specialty Pharmacy
• JD Fischer, Sr. Health Policy Analyst, Policy Division, Washington State Healthcare Authority
• John Robicsek, Assistant Vice President, Strategy, Business and Program Development, Pharmacy Administration, Atrium Health
• Jacob Jolly, Program Director, Specialty Pharmacy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Melissa Leedock, Director Pharmacy Formulary and Commercial Operations, Pharmacy Services, Capital Blue Cross
• Jay Weaver, PharmD, MPH, Divisional Vice President, Enterprise Pharmacy, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma & Texas
• John Musil, Founder and Chairman, Avella Specialty Pharmacy
• Dawn Bina, Account Manager, BioPharm, Novo Nordisk Inc.
• Lauren Vela, Senior Director, Member Value, Pacific Business Group on Health

Discuss Innovative Partnership Models, Compare Population Health Management Strategies and:

• Explore employer trends in cost sharing, utilization management, pharmacy network strategy and more
• Assess the best approach for working with providers on data collection and integrity
• Discuss how to take pilot key learnings and craft a meaningful IDN value story
• Consider engagement strategies for risk-based contracting with evolving IDNs
• Examine the different approaches to IDN-SP integration and how manufacturers can utilize this information for strategic planning
• Describe the benefits of collaboration across the industry to optimize and standardize outcomes reporting
• Plus! Benefit from 12+ hours of networking with manufacturers, health systems, payers, specialty pharmacies
• And More!

Visit www.cbinet.com/IDN for more information. Drug Channels subscribers will save $400 off the standard registration rate when they use promo code RMD779* by March 1, 2019.

*Offer expires 3/1/19, applies to standard rates only and may not be combined with other offers, category rates, promotions or applied to an existing registration. Offer not valid on workshop only or academic/non-profit registrations.

---

The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

Today’s guest post comes from Derek Rago, VP/GM of Data, Evidence & Insights at McKesson Life Sciences.

Derek discusses how biopharma companies can use real-world evidence to gain efficiencies and build effective strategies. He also outlines the key elements of an effective data and analytics strategy.

To learn more about McKesson’s data, evidence and insights solutions, visit McKesson.com/DataInsights.

Read on for Derek’s insights.

L.A. vs. New England! Youth vs. experience! Kale vs. chowdah! Yes, it’s time for a weekend of blow-out commercials, occasionally interrupted by a football game.

Before you start training to gorge at your Super Bowl-party, tackle this month’s selection of notable news stories, intercepted for you from the Drug Channels gridiron.

• Touchdown: The little-known ways that plans profit from Medicare Part D

• Trick play: Hospital care vs. prescription drugs: My best tweet ever!

• Offensive lines: A must-read guide to BS in healthcare

Plus, we here at Drug Channels have just released our 2019 media kit. Check it out and let us know how we can help you appear on the site.

P.S. Follow my curated links to cool stuff at @DrugChannels on Twitter.

The IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science today released a new report that reveals important realities about U.S. drug pricing trends.

Too many politicians and journalists remain committed to the false narrative of “skyrocketing” and “soaring” drug prices.

By contrast, IQVIA data reveal that list prices for brand-name drugs grew by less than 6% in 2018. What’s more, net prices (after rebates and discounts) increased by only 1.5%. The 2018 figures mark the fourth consecutive year that net drug prices have grown by low-single-digit amounts.

I recognize that relying on “facts” and “data” has become unfashionable. But I simply don’t understand how we can build sound public policies based upon inaccurate perceptions. As the late senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan said: "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." I doubt this principle will guide today's congressional hearings.

sPCMA Business Forum

March 11 & 12, 2019

Hilton Bonnet Creek | Orlando, FL

The sPCMA Business Forum brings together senior executives and decision makers from PBMs, health plans and their affiliate specialty pharmacies to collaborate with drug makers and their other important business partners. The event offers invaluable networking and education for individuals and companies involved in the specialty drug supply chain. Conference sessions will cover critical issues confronting the work of PBMs, insurers and drug makers.

Contact PCMA

Please contact Jenny Bradham (jbradham@pcmanet.org) with questions or to request further information.

---

The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has just released its first 2019 data on enrollment in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs).

Our exclusive analysis of these numbers finds that for 2019, 88.4% of seniors are enrolled in PDPs with preferred pharmacy networks. That’s a drop from last year's figure of 99.9%.

Below, we use the new enrollment data to analyze the major pharmacy chains’ position within the 22 major Part D plans that have preferred networks. As you will see, in 2019 CVS again looks poised to capture market share from Walgreens and Walmart, both of which lost position in this year’s networks. Kroger remains a major player, while Rite Aid holds a distant fourth place behind its peers.

One more fun fact about 2019 enrollment: CVS Health’s SilverScript Allure, the first Part D plan with point-of-sale (POS) rebates for brand-name drugs, bombed. Was it a noble experiment or an unappealing option designed to enroll few seniors in a plan design that CVS opposes?