I urge Catalyst Pharmaceuticals to respond to this FDA decision by lowering its own outrageous price

[Uncle Joe]

Link to tweet

CNN)The US Food and Drug Administration created a workaround this week that effectively undercuts the $375,000 price tag of a drug that became the poster child for concerns about the pharmaceutical industry.

The FDA announced Monday that it was approving a separate drug for pediatric patients with a rare, painful neuromuscular disease called Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, also known as LEMS. The disease weakens and fatigues muscles, causing agonizing pain to the point at which patients struggle to walk.

The move sparked celebration in the LEMS community and tanked the stock of Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, maker of the $375,000 drug, called Firdapse. The company's stock price has dropped about 50% since Monday.

(snip)

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a Democratic presidential hopeful, sent a blistering letter to the company, demanding answers and calling it "corporate greed" at its worst. He also asked the FDA to allow Jacobus -- which had made its pre-approval drug available for years at no cost to patients through a compassionate use program -- to keep making the medication.

(snip)

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/08/health/fda-firdapse-expensive-drug-surprise-move/index.html

[LibFarmer]

1. Free market competition will lower the price

Bernie is just getting on the bandwagon as though he caused it, taking credit for a natural phenomenon in the market.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Welcome to D.U. LibFarmer

[progressoid]

3. Whaaaa?

"Free market competition will lower the price"