It's not just democrats itching to get at Pharma. For example, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) chaired by Sen. Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyoming), met in full session on November 16, 2006 ("Hearing on Building a 21st Century FDA: Proposals to Improve Drug Safety and Innovation;" access audio and testimony from this hearing here) and Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has put a hold on the nomination of Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach for commissioner of the FDA (see "Hold It!").
One bill currently before the HELP Committee is S. 3807: Enhancing Drug Safety and Innovation Act of 2006: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve drug safety and oversight, and for other purposes. This bill is also known as the Enzi-Kennedy after the senators that sponsored it. These same senators head up the HELP Committee.
Here's a synopsis of the issues and changes experts have predicted that the drug industry will be subjected to in the next legislative session:
Drug Price Related
- Medicare reform -- allow government to directly negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies
- Allow drug importation from Canada
- Patent Reform -- set limits on whether big pharmaceutical firms can make deals with generic drug makers
- Enact a mandatory 6-month, one- or two-year moratorium on ads for new drugs
- Require FDA pre-clearance of all DTC ads
- Wipe out or limiting tax deductions for advertising expense
- Require a "black triangle" in ads and labels for new drugs
- Set standards for risk presentation that make broadcast ads infeasible
- Hold up of Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) reauthorization
- Make FDA more powerful -- eg, create office of drug safety within FDA, give the FDA the power to fine companies to force them to do safety studies or change the labels of drugs (Grassley-Dodd and Enzi-Kennedy bills)
Take the Pharma Marketing News Online SurveyTestimony Highlights
Pharma Marketing News is currently hosting an online survey to determine how likely these changes are according to pharmaceutical marketing experts. You can take the survey here. You will be able to see a de-identified summary of the current results after you complete the survey. I plan to also write up a summary of the results for the December issue of the newsletter. Your responses are held strictly confidential unless you give me permission to use your name.
Several witnesses at the HELP Committee hearing framed the issues and specifically discussed S.3807 and the IOM report. I pick two from "opposite sides of the aisle"; that is, a pharmaceutical company representative and a consumer representative.
Highlights from testimony by Dr. Adrian Thomas, Vice President, Benefit-Risk Management, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Group (see complete statement here).
On S.3807: "We support the use of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies proposed in S. 3807 to enhance safety, where these strategies are most needed. We believe the proposed Reagan-Udall Institute could be a valuable impetus to spur scientific innovation if consistent and adequate appropriations are provided. We support the provisions of S. 3807 and the IOM report regarding the registration and disclosure of results of confirmatory clinical trials. We support efforts to manage conflicts of interest in FDA Advisory Committees and to enhance transparency while retaining FDA’s access to expertise. Finally, we believe that Congress should adequately fund the Food and Drug Administration in the interest of all Americans."Highlights from testimony by Mr. Jim Guest, President & CEO, Consumers Union (see complete statement here).
On DTC Moratorium: "Another remedy that should be reconsidered is the proposed ability of FDA, under the legislation, to impose a moratorium on direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising for up to two years. This restraint on advertising represents a troubling change. Many members of the industry, including Johnson & Johnson, have voluntarily agreed to exercise restraint with respect to DTC advertising, especially during the period of time after approval. But appropriate DTC advertising plays a valuable role in educating patients about diseases and treatments. The value of this education to patients, as well as the important First Amendment issues that arise from banning truthful speech, even for a period of time, must be carefully considered before legislating in this area. At a minimum, the standard for imposing DTC advertising restraints should be much higher than is currently articulated in the legislation, to ensure appropriate application of this new authority."
On DTC Moratorium: "In light of the promotional nature of DTC advertising and the long history of abuses in DTC advertising, and given that such advertising strongly influences consumers, Consumers Union recommends a requirement that ALL advertisements be pre-cleared by the FDA for accuracy and honesty, including the growing use of ads in the Internet and other non-traditional sites. In addition, the FDA may impose a two (2) year moratorium on DTC advertising for drugs showing more serious safety concerns. Given the amount of influence this type of advertising has on consumers, and given the potential serious ADRs that may occur years after approval, Consumers Union recommends a moratorium on DTC advertising of three or more years for all new drugs. The history of ADRs and withdrawals shows that drugs cannot be assumed safe after just two years. Adding possible third year to the moratorium authorities in S. 3807 would be prudent and constitutional."What Do You Think: Take the Pharma Marketing News online survey.
On Off-Label Use of Drugs: "S. 3807 is silent on the issue of off-label use. Given the potential for off-label uses to create serious safety problems, Consumers Union recommends that the FDA develop a program to scientifically study drugs widely used in off-label settings. We are not advocating a ban on such use. We are simply asking that some scientific study be brought to this area, so that the labels on these drugs may be expanded and improved in the cases where the scientific evidence is supportive."
John,
ReplyDeleteI think you express some wonderful and insightful viewpoints about pharmaceutical marketing and the industry in general. It's to great to see someone out there working on the problem instead adding to it. We share similar viewpoints and please feel free to read some of ours.
hree Ways Congress Could Help Save Lives
ReplyDeleteSince the Democrats regained the House and the Senate, there have been many news articles posing the ways that Democrats and Congress could damage the pharmaceutical industry. The list of talking points includes potential legislative changes in Medicare and Medicaid, drug importation, drug safety and DTC advertising.
The articles cry foul play and set the stage for a battle between the Dems and Big Pharma to play their traditional roles.
Isn't time for change? Haven't we all heard that the healthcare system as it exists today is unsustainable and ultimately bankrupt? Haven't we seen the polls that rank the pharmaceutical industry alongside the oil companies in public opinion? Don't we all have personal stories about a healthcare system run amok?
If that doesn't move you, how about the fact that 70% of all clinical trials are delayed because patients are either uninformed or too distrusting of the industry to participate. Drug development costs for one approved drug are estimated at $802 million and climbing but we are testing the drugs on only 10% of the eligible patient population. Meanwhile, the impact of serious adverse events after approval eviscerates stock prices and leads to deepening rifts between patients and the pharmaceutical industry. Does this equation seems a little unbalanced?
Consider the positive impact legislative reform might bring:
Change: Implement patient education programs to replace DTC for the first 2 years post-approval.
Impact: A better informed, engaged and trusting patient population. Faster growth of preventative and personalized medicine.
Change: Require transparency and broad distribution of clinical trial results.
Impact: Improved cooperation and collaboration with patient advocacy groups, increased patient participation, greater speed to market, increased trust.
Change: Increase funding and support for FDA to integrate processes and improve resources.
Impact: The FDA becomes a place were the balance of good science and public safety is free of political influence and staff are rewarded not demoralized.
These are just three ways Congress can help save lives if we are open to change.