Pharmalittle: We’re reading about the FTC vs. PBMs, FDA adcomm voting and more

Hello, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you, especially since the middle of the week is upon us. After all, we have made it this far so we are determined to hang on for another couple of days. And why not? The alternatives — at least those we can identify — are not so appetizing. And what better way to make the time fly than to keep busy. So grab that cup of stimulation and get started. Our flavor today is glazed doughnut — sweets for the sweet, you know? We hope you have a lovely day, and do keep in touch. …

A much-anticipated inquiry by U.S. antitrust regulators into pharmaceutical industry middlemen has been stymied because the companies have failed to provide many of the documents that, in some cases, were requested as far back as June 2022, STAT writes. The inquiry was begun by the Federal Trade Commission in response to the role that pharmacy benefit managers play in the cost of prescription medicines. Through their unique position, these companies — including CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx — help determine which medicines are covered by commercial health insurers and the prices that are paid at pharmacy counters, among other things.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to increase the number of inspections at Indian drug manufacturers in 2024 amid growing concerns over quality issues, Reuters reports. The FDA conducted more than 200 inspections in 2023 in India, following a lull in unannounced inspections during the pandemic. The move comes as the Indian government pushes drug makers to implement good manufacturing practices to match global standards. The World Health Organization last year linked the deaths of dozens of children in Gambia to Indian-made drugs. The U.S. accounts for 30% of India’s total pharmaceutical products exports.

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