FDA chief joins chorus with hard line on pricing

4 May 2018

Speaking at the annual get-together of the Food and Drug Law Institute, US Food and Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb suggested on Thursday that the federal law on kickbacks could be applied in order to lower prescription drug prices.

Adding to recent tough talk on pricing from US President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Dr Gottlieb said: “Let’s face it. Right now, we don’t have a truly free market when it comes to drug pricing, and in too many cases, that’s driving prices to unaffordable levels for some patients.”

After noting that “President Trump and Secretary Azar will have more on this topic soon,” the FDA boss claimed part of the reason for higher list prices is the system of rebates that currently exists between payers and manufacturers.

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