US FTC takes dim view of PBMs role in marketplace

A new report from the USA's Federal Trade Commission (FTC) underlines how the agency regards middlemen as having the potential to inflate drug prices.

In the USA, a fragmented and complex system of manufacturers, payers, providers and insurers can lead to a lack of transparency, making it difficult to evaluate cost-effectiveness.

The FTC has singled out Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for concern, noting that they can “hike the cost of drugs—including overcharging patients for cancer drugs.”