Cheaper By The Dozen? J&J Is Sued Over 340B Drug Discounts

In the latest squabble over the controversial 340B Drug Pricing Program, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is an outspoken advocate for expanding services to patients, has filed a lawsuit accusing Johnson & Johnson for failing to offer required discounts on prescription medicines. After conducting an analysis, AHF claims that J&J was overpaid by more than $2 million between 2005 and 2013, but attempts to convince the health care giant to reclassify the specified drugs went nowhere. And AHF also maintains that J&J “deliberately, arbitrarily (and) oppressively” refusing to reclassify drugs for other organizations that are entitled to discounts but overpaid (here is the lawsuit). We asked J&J (JNJ) for comment and will update you accordingly. [UPDATE: A spokesman for the J&J Janssen unit sent us this: "While we cannot comment on the specifics of this lawsuit at this time, since we introduced our first HIV medicine seven years ago, Janssen has been committed to helping people in need access our HIV medicines. "This commitment is demonstrated through the voluntary discounts, rebates and price freezes we have provided to state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, our co-pay program, our efforts to help patients access our medicines through the Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation and our participation in the HarborPath initiative for ADAP Waiting list patients."] The 340B program, for those who may not recall, was created in 1992 in order to giv...
Source: Pharmalot - Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: Source Type: blogs