Adam J. Fein Ph.D.
@drugchannels.bsky.social
President, Drug Channels Institute, an HMP Global company
Please be civil and constructive when commenting. Personal attacks = blocked.
Please be civil and constructive when commenting. Personal attacks = blocked.
Pinned
I'm pausing BlueSky posting until further notice. Find me on LinkedIn for daily links to neat stuff along with thoughtful and provocative commentary from the DCI community.
drugch.nl/AJF-LinkedIn
drugch.nl/AJF-LinkedIn
I'm pausing BlueSky posting until further notice. Find me on LinkedIn for daily links to neat stuff along with thoughtful and provocative commentary from the DCI community.
drugch.nl/AJF-LinkedIn
drugch.nl/AJF-LinkedIn
March 25, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I'm pausing BlueSky posting until further notice. Find me on LinkedIn for daily links to neat stuff along with thoughtful and provocative commentary from the DCI community.
drugch.nl/AJF-LinkedIn
drugch.nl/AJF-LinkedIn
Here's a brief video recap of the inaugural Drug Channels Leadership Forum. #DCLF2025 See you again in March 2026!
youtu.be/c-adcFF-eKM?...
youtu.be/c-adcFF-eKM?...
Drug Channels Leadership Forum 2025: Video Recap
YouTube video by Drug Channels
youtu.be
March 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Here's a brief video recap of the inaugural Drug Channels Leadership Forum. #DCLF2025 See you again in March 2026!
youtu.be/c-adcFF-eKM?...
youtu.be/c-adcFF-eKM?...
Anti-accumulator impact accelerates: Per Avalere 16% of U.S. commercial lives (31 million people) now subject to the 21 state laws that ban #copay #accumulators.
==> drugch.nl/4bHgOoS
==> drugch.nl/4bHgOoS
March 24, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Anti-accumulator impact accelerates: Per Avalere 16% of U.S. commercial lives (31 million people) now subject to the 21 state laws that ban #copay #accumulators.
==> drugch.nl/4bHgOoS
==> drugch.nl/4bHgOoS
Good read on the shifting Medicare Part D landscape. That said, the headline might be a little too optimistic. Even with the broader Medicare Advantage slowdown, MA-PD plans are still growing faster than stand-alone PDPs.
drugch.nl/4iHbHra (no paywall)
drugch.nl/4iHbHra (no paywall)
March 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Good read on the shifting Medicare Part D landscape. That said, the headline might be a little too optimistic. Even with the broader Medicare Advantage slowdown, MA-PD plans are still growing faster than stand-alone PDPs.
drugch.nl/4iHbHra (no paywall)
drugch.nl/4iHbHra (no paywall)
March 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
NOW AVAILABLE: The 2025 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers #PBMs
Full details ==> drugch.nl/pharmacy
12 chapters, 540+ pages, 268 exhibits, ~1,200 endnotes: Nothing else comes close!
*** Special discounts thru 3/31/25***
Full details ==> drugch.nl/pharmacy
12 chapters, 540+ pages, 268 exhibits, ~1,200 endnotes: Nothing else comes close!
*** Special discounts thru 3/31/25***
March 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM
NOW AVAILABLE: The 2025 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers #PBMs
Full details ==> drugch.nl/pharmacy
12 chapters, 540+ pages, 268 exhibits, ~1,200 endnotes: Nothing else comes close!
*** Special discounts thru 3/31/25***
Full details ==> drugch.nl/pharmacy
12 chapters, 540+ pages, 268 exhibits, ~1,200 endnotes: Nothing else comes close!
*** Special discounts thru 3/31/25***
NOW AVAILABLE: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 2025 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 #𝐏𝐁𝐌𝐬
12 chapters, 540+ pages, 268 exhibits, ~1,200 endnotes: Nothing else comes close!
==> drugch.nl/pharmacy
** Special discounts thru 3/31/25**
12 chapters, 540+ pages, 268 exhibits, ~1,200 endnotes: Nothing else comes close!
==> drugch.nl/pharmacy
** Special discounts thru 3/31/25**
March 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM
NOW AVAILABLE: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 2025 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 #𝐏𝐁𝐌𝐬
12 chapters, 540+ pages, 268 exhibits, ~1,200 endnotes: Nothing else comes close!
==> drugch.nl/pharmacy
** Special discounts thru 3/31/25**
12 chapters, 540+ pages, 268 exhibits, ~1,200 endnotes: Nothing else comes close!
==> drugch.nl/pharmacy
** Special discounts thru 3/31/25**
ICYMI: CVS Health $CVS is launching small-format #pharmacies (drugch.nl/3DDd0sa).
Why?
- Prescriptions now dominate retail #pharmacy revenue (GLP-1s=90% via retail)
- Front-End Decline: Walmart, Target, and Amazon have eroded sales. (Locking up products hasn’t helped!)
Chart via drugch.nl/pharmacy
Why?
- Prescriptions now dominate retail #pharmacy revenue (GLP-1s=90% via retail)
- Front-End Decline: Walmart, Target, and Amazon have eroded sales. (Locking up products hasn’t helped!)
Chart via drugch.nl/pharmacy
March 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
ICYMI: CVS Health $CVS is launching small-format #pharmacies (drugch.nl/3DDd0sa).
Why?
- Prescriptions now dominate retail #pharmacy revenue (GLP-1s=90% via retail)
- Front-End Decline: Walmart, Target, and Amazon have eroded sales. (Locking up products hasn’t helped!)
Chart via drugch.nl/pharmacy
Why?
- Prescriptions now dominate retail #pharmacy revenue (GLP-1s=90% via retail)
- Front-End Decline: Walmart, Target, and Amazon have eroded sales. (Locking up products hasn’t helped!)
Chart via drugch.nl/pharmacy
Positively shocking! Joe Walker WSJ exposes how small #PBMs and certain start-ups are enabling for-profit employers to grab #340B discounts. As one pundit noted: "It's a blatant abuse of the 340B program." The 340B loopholes just keep expanding...
www.wsj.com/health/healt... (no paywall link)
www.wsj.com/health/healt... (no paywall link)
How Some Startups Are Helping Employers Get Big Drug Discounts
New drug middlemen help employers tap a federal prescription-discount program meant for hospitals that serve the poor
www.wsj.com
March 17, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Positively shocking! Joe Walker WSJ exposes how small #PBMs and certain start-ups are enabling for-profit employers to grab #340B discounts. As one pundit noted: "It's a blatant abuse of the 340B program." The 340B loopholes just keep expanding...
www.wsj.com/health/healt... (no paywall link)
www.wsj.com/health/healt... (no paywall link)
Competition Wins Again Over Price Controls: #Stelara biosimilars are launching with list prices 80%+ lower than reference product. IRA's "maximum fair price" #MFP only offers a 66% discount off WAC. Biosimilars arrived will save money vs. gov't "negotiated" price.
Source: Bourgoin Insights Group
Source: Bourgoin Insights Group
March 15, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Stelara #biosimilar price war update: Teva's Anda will sell #biosimilar to Navitus Health Solutions #PBM for 96% off WAC of reference product. Humira was just the warm up. Look out below!
drugch.nl/43Hdd8o
drugch.nl/43Hdd8o
Lumicera Secures Purchase Agreement for Stelara® Biosimilar, Delivering Major Cost Savings
Lumicera Health Services announced today it has secured a purchase agreement with Anda, Inc., an independent wholly owned subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceu
drugch.nl
March 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Stelara #biosimilar price war update: Teva's Anda will sell #biosimilar to Navitus Health Solutions #PBM for 96% off WAC of reference product. Humira was just the warm up. Look out below!
drugch.nl/43Hdd8o
drugch.nl/43Hdd8o
Battle of the billionaires: Should we fix U.S. #healthcare with Mark Cuban's free market approach or John Arnold's top-down central planning? Or both?
Fascinating debate. Wish I could have been there to witness this conversation!
buff.ly/THbaPrs
@mcuban.bsky.social @johnarnoldfndtn.bsky.social
Fascinating debate. Wish I could have been there to witness this conversation!
buff.ly/THbaPrs
@mcuban.bsky.social @johnarnoldfndtn.bsky.social
buff.ly
March 12, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Battle of the billionaires: Should we fix U.S. #healthcare with Mark Cuban's free market approach or John Arnold's top-down central planning? Or both?
Fascinating debate. Wish I could have been there to witness this conversation!
buff.ly/THbaPrs
@mcuban.bsky.social @johnarnoldfndtn.bsky.social
Fascinating debate. Wish I could have been there to witness this conversation!
buff.ly/THbaPrs
@mcuban.bsky.social @johnarnoldfndtn.bsky.social
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐩 15 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 2024: For 2024, DCI estimates that total prescription dispensing revenues at retail, mail, long-term care, and specialty pharmacies reached $683 billion, up 9% from the 2023 figure.
Read more: drugch.nl/3DmHdvI
Read more: drugch.nl/3DmHdvI
March 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐩 15 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 2024: For 2024, DCI estimates that total prescription dispensing revenues at retail, mail, long-term care, and specialty pharmacies reached $683 billion, up 9% from the 2023 figure.
Read more: drugch.nl/3DmHdvI
Read more: drugch.nl/3DmHdvI
Hmm. Per Doug Hoey NCPA , the "glaring flaws in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program" will financially hurt small #pharmacies, while mandating that "independent pharmacies serving Medicare Part D patients participate, even if doing so drives them out of business." Thanks, IRA!
Alarm Bells are Ringing: Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Will Fail Without Changes
If CMS doesn’t reconsider its mandate, which forces independent pharmacies to go deep into a hole and lose money, many of them will close.
buff.ly
March 11, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Hmm. Per Doug Hoey NCPA , the "glaring flaws in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program" will financially hurt small #pharmacies, while mandating that "independent pharmacies serving Medicare Part D patients participate, even if doing so drives them out of business." Thanks, IRA!
Neat analysis from IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science: More restrictive #pharmacist authority to vaccinate ==> fewer vaccinations
Full report: buff.ly/4bkbpUy
Full report: buff.ly/4bkbpUy
March 10, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Neat analysis from IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science: More restrictive #pharmacist authority to vaccinate ==> fewer vaccinations
Full report: buff.ly/4bkbpUy
Full report: buff.ly/4bkbpUy
Deductible realities: A patient with a deductible funds the entire drug channel, while her "insurance" collects money. No wonder patient-paid prescriptions (cash-pay & disocnt cards) continue to grow.
Source: Follow The Dollar report from PhRMA buff.ly/K78g33M
Source: Follow The Dollar report from PhRMA buff.ly/K78g33M
March 10, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Deductible realities: A patient with a deductible funds the entire drug channel, while her "insurance" collects money. No wonder patient-paid prescriptions (cash-pay & disocnt cards) continue to grow.
Source: Follow The Dollar report from PhRMA buff.ly/K78g33M
Source: Follow The Dollar report from PhRMA buff.ly/K78g33M
Another scoop: @bobjherman.bsky.social confirms UnitedHealth Group's $UNH rumored acquistion of CPS (which helps #340B #hospitals set up specialty #pharmacies). UNH also bought PharmScript, a long-term-care pharmacy.
Bob has become the #1 reporter covering UNH. 👏👏👏
buff.ly/QKF9ITj
Bob has become the #1 reporter covering UNH. 👏👏👏
buff.ly/QKF9ITj
March 8, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Another scoop: @bobjherman.bsky.social confirms UnitedHealth Group's $UNH rumored acquistion of CPS (which helps #340B #hospitals set up specialty #pharmacies). UNH also bought PharmScript, a long-term-care pharmacy.
Bob has become the #1 reporter covering UNH. 👏👏👏
buff.ly/QKF9ITj
Bob has become the #1 reporter covering UNH. 👏👏👏
buff.ly/QKF9ITj
Per new American Medical Association prior authorization (PA) survey: Patient pay out of pocket for #prescriptions while fighting with #insurers. Good news for discount cards and cash-pay #pharmacies?
Also: MDs still dislike #PAs & think they hurt patients.
Also: MDs still dislike #PAs & think they hurt patients.
buff.ly
March 6, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Per new American Medical Association prior authorization (PA) survey: Patient pay out of pocket for #prescriptions while fighting with #insurers. Good news for discount cards and cash-pay #pharmacies?
Also: MDs still dislike #PAs & think they hurt patients.
Also: MDs still dislike #PAs & think they hurt patients.
Follow the dollars! #BecauseOf340B, Lantus #340B utilization dropped when Sanofi cut its price by 78%, while demand for high-list Toujeo U-300 grew. "Clearly, 340B profit margins are influencing hospital formularies and prescribing decisions." 🤑
buff.ly/haxKv2d
buff.ly/haxKv2d
March 6, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Follow the dollars! #BecauseOf340B, Lantus #340B utilization dropped when Sanofi cut its price by 78%, while demand for high-list Toujeo U-300 grew. "Clearly, 340B profit margins are influencing hospital formularies and prescribing decisions." 🤑
buff.ly/haxKv2d
buff.ly/haxKv2d
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐯𝐬. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐁𝐌 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬
drugch.nl/3F5F9bS
Mandated disclosures about #PBM economics have yielded little actionable, reliable data. Should we continue down the path of gov't-mandated reporting, or should plan sponsors be left to negotiate their own deals?
drugch.nl/3F5F9bS
Mandated disclosures about #PBM economics have yielded little actionable, reliable data. Should we continue down the path of gov't-mandated reporting, or should plan sponsors be left to negotiate their own deals?
March 5, 2025 at 12:13 PM
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐯𝐬. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐁𝐌 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬
drugch.nl/3F5F9bS
Mandated disclosures about #PBM economics have yielded little actionable, reliable data. Should we continue down the path of gov't-mandated reporting, or should plan sponsors be left to negotiate their own deals?
drugch.nl/3F5F9bS
Mandated disclosures about #PBM economics have yielded little actionable, reliable data. Should we continue down the path of gov't-mandated reporting, or should plan sponsors be left to negotiate their own deals?
I'm proud to announce DCI's new live video webinar:
#𝐏𝐁𝐌 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞:
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝
Friday, April 4, 2025 | p.m. to p.m. ET
Register: drugch.nl/april2025
#𝐏𝐁𝐌 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞:
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝
Friday, April 4, 2025 | p.m. to p.m. ET
Register: drugch.nl/april2025
March 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I'm proud to announce DCI's new live video webinar:
#𝐏𝐁𝐌 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞:
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝
Friday, April 4, 2025 | p.m. to p.m. ET
Register: drugch.nl/april2025
#𝐏𝐁𝐌 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞:
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝
Friday, April 4, 2025 | p.m. to p.m. ET
Register: drugch.nl/april2025
Insightful: Deborah Williams and Anthony DiGiorgio argue that #340B's warped incentives shift oncology practices toward higher-cost hospital settings, crowd out private payer discounts & rebates, & raises #healthcare costs for private payers.
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathways buff.ly/3Xf11ru
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathways buff.ly/3Xf11ru
March 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Insightful: Deborah Williams and Anthony DiGiorgio argue that #340B's warped incentives shift oncology practices toward higher-cost hospital settings, crowd out private payer discounts & rebates, & raises #healthcare costs for private payers.
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathways buff.ly/3Xf11ru
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathways buff.ly/3Xf11ru
Good point from Association for Accessible Medicines: #IRA negotiations target brand-name #drugs that have #generic or #biosimilar competitors already approved or seeking approval by FDA. Like it or not, #IRA will alter future investment incentives for such products.
==> buff.ly/4igxHsF
==> buff.ly/4igxHsF
March 3, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Good point from Association for Accessible Medicines: #IRA negotiations target brand-name #drugs that have #generic or #biosimilar competitors already approved or seeking approval by FDA. Like it or not, #IRA will alter future investment incentives for such products.
==> buff.ly/4igxHsF
==> buff.ly/4igxHsF
FYI: #GrossToNetBubble is alive and well. Here are UCB #drug pricing for 2024:
List prices: +5.0%
Net prices: -7.8%
Avg. reduction from list price: -54.1%
#DPFE #facts
buff.ly/3EQGG5l
List prices: +5.0%
Net prices: -7.8%
Avg. reduction from list price: -54.1%
#DPFE #facts
buff.ly/3EQGG5l
March 2, 2025 at 2:15 PM
FYI: #GrossToNetBubble is alive and well. Here are UCB #drug pricing for 2024:
List prices: +5.0%
Net prices: -7.8%
Avg. reduction from list price: -54.1%
#DPFE #facts
buff.ly/3EQGG5l
List prices: +5.0%
Net prices: -7.8%
Avg. reduction from list price: -54.1%
#DPFE #facts
buff.ly/3EQGG5l