San Francisco Voters OK Measure For Lowering Drug Prices

In a first-of-its-kind vote that may prove largely symbolic, San Francisco voters overwhelming approved a ballot measure that requires city officials to hold talks with drugmakers about pricing for ‘essential medicines.’ Known as the Prescription Drug Purchasing Initiative, the measure was approved by approximately 80 percent of those voting. To what extent the effort will become anything more than a symbolic gesture, however, remains to be seen. The initiative requires the city to use “all available opportunities to reduce the city’s cost of prescription drugs,” and also instructs state and federal representatives to sponsor legislation to “reduce drug prices paid by the government.” The city spends $23 million annually on prescription drugs for cancer and AIDS patients, among others, but the Board of Supervisors does not know how much money is spent on which drugs because the Department of Public Health has confidentiality agreements with drug distributors, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. As reported previously, the measure is designed to increase patient access and was begun last summer by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, an outspoken provider and patient advocate, in response to the prices for certain AIDS medications. Specifically, AHF cited Stribild, a once-daily combination HIV pill from Gilead Sciences (GILD) that was approved by the FDA last year and costs $28,500 annually. AHF targeted San Francisco for its referendum, since the city has a la...
Source: Pharmalot - Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: Source Type: blogs