The Readout Loud
318: Drug pricing drops & psychedelics under fire
Aug 15, 2024
Rachel Cohrs Zhang, chief Washington correspondent for STAT, talks about the recent pharmaceutical negotiations with Medicare, highlighting significant discounts and the industry's reactions. Meghana Keshavan dives into the world of psychedelics, discussing the troubling retraction of three pivotal research papers and FDA setbacks for notable therapies. They explore the ethical implications of these developments and the future of psychedelic treatments in mental health, emphasizing the implications for regulatory integrity and research credibility.
21:16
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Quick takeaways
- The negotiations between Medicare and pharmaceutical companies could potentially save around $6 billion, although future impacts remain uncertain.
- Psychedelic research faces significant challenges following FDA rejections and retracted studies, yet there is cautious optimism for future therapies.
Deep dives
Drug Pricing and Medicare Negotiations
The recent unveiling of Medicare's drug prices from the first round of negotiations highlights significant changes in drug pricing policy. The Biden administration estimates that these negotiations could save Medicare around $6 billion, based on last year's drug costs. However, the true impact of these savings remains uncertain due to numerous variables, including changes in drug utilization patterns and the overall structure of the Medicare Part D program starting in 2025. Notably, while some specific drugs, like Genuvia and Entresto, are projected to see larger discounts, the reaction from the pharmaceutical industry has been muted, indicating a level of acceptance of these new price points.
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