Allan Coukell
@coukell.bsky.social
Pharmacist, reformed journalist, policy wonk. Leads public policy for Civica Inc. (Civica Rx).
I testified before the Senate Aging Committee yesterday on domestic generic drug manufacturing. 20% of oral and 40% of injectable generics are made here. Key message: If we want a domestic industry, we’ll have to pay prices that allow that industry to survive. www.aging.senate.gov/hearings/mad...
Made in America: Restoring Trust in Our Medicines | United States Senate Special Committee on Aging
United States Senate Special Committee on Aging
www.aging.senate.gov
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I testified before the Senate Aging Committee yesterday on domestic generic drug manufacturing. 20% of oral and 40% of injectable generics are made here. Key message: If we want a domestic industry, we’ll have to pay prices that allow that industry to survive. www.aging.senate.gov/hearings/mad...
Reposted by Allan Coukell
We’re launching a new low-cost insulin glargine on Jan. 1! Making affordable insulin a reality for people with diabetes is central to our mission.
Learn more: civicarx.org/civica-to-la...
Learn more: civicarx.org/civica-to-la...
October 16, 2025 at 12:14 PM
We’re launching a new low-cost insulin glargine on Jan. 1! Making affordable insulin a reality for people with diabetes is central to our mission.
Learn more: civicarx.org/civica-to-la...
Learn more: civicarx.org/civica-to-la...
@theglobeandmail.com Maybe update your front page?
September 27, 2025 at 8:28 PM
@theglobeandmail.com Maybe update your front page?
This is the most American thing ever. www.washingtonpost.com/home/2025/08...
August 19, 2025 at 11:25 AM
This is the most American thing ever. www.washingtonpost.com/home/2025/08...
Reposted by Allan Coukell
CivicaScript is thrilled to announce that we will be the exclusive distributor of unbranded ustekinumab-aauz, which is used in certain patients for the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions. Our transparent business model is yielding financial results for patients.
bit.ly/4lZ4Hb5
bit.ly/4lZ4Hb5
August 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
CivicaScript is thrilled to announce that we will be the exclusive distributor of unbranded ustekinumab-aauz, which is used in certain patients for the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions. Our transparent business model is yielding financial results for patients.
bit.ly/4lZ4Hb5
bit.ly/4lZ4Hb5
Reposted by Allan Coukell
We’re thrilled to announce our second product launch in three months: CivicaScript dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules! CivicaScript dimethyl fumarate will be available for no more than $68/bottle – an average savings of $4,300/month!
Learn more at shorter.gg/HVImLb
Learn more at shorter.gg/HVImLb
June 24, 2025 at 1:37 PM
We’re thrilled to announce our second product launch in three months: CivicaScript dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules! CivicaScript dimethyl fumarate will be available for no more than $68/bottle – an average savings of $4,300/month!
Learn more at shorter.gg/HVImLb
Learn more at shorter.gg/HVImLb
Reposted by Allan Coukell
The EU and UK this month unleashed a wave of sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet. Of the 343 shadow vessels I track, 318 are now sanctioned by the US, UK or EU, but overlap is still way too low. Only 43 ships are sanctioned by all three. Today's substack:
robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/eu-and-uk-...
robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/eu-and-uk-...
EU and UK Shadow Fleet Sanctions
The EU and UK unleashed a wave of sanctions on Russia' shadow fleet this month
robinjbrooks.substack.com
May 27, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The EU and UK this month unleashed a wave of sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet. Of the 343 shadow vessels I track, 318 are now sanctioned by the US, UK or EU, but overlap is still way too low. Only 43 ships are sanctioned by all three. Today's substack:
robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/eu-and-uk-...
robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/eu-and-uk-...
Reposted by Allan Coukell
A new report in The New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst shows our strategy to lower high-priced generic medicine costs through disruptive collaboration has succeeded. Customers are saving 64% while payers are saving an astonishing 92% over previous spending!
Learn more at tinyurl.com/4s3hm83e
Learn more at tinyurl.com/4s3hm83e
May 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
A new report in The New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst shows our strategy to lower high-priced generic medicine costs through disruptive collaboration has succeeded. Customers are saving 64% while payers are saving an astonishing 92% over previous spending!
Learn more at tinyurl.com/4s3hm83e
Learn more at tinyurl.com/4s3hm83e
It will also result in old people staying in their homes in unsafe conditions because the alternative is to sell an asset they want to pass to their children.
imposing $1 million home equity limit for medicaid long term care. breaking the notion that medicaid could be for anyone. no more "get super sick and can no longer work - don't worry, medicaid is for you even if you used to make a great living." live in a rich city? you have to sell your home first.
May 12, 2025 at 11:36 AM
It will also result in old people staying in their homes in unsafe conditions because the alternative is to sell an asset they want to pass to their children.
Drug shortages now last an average 4 years! (Up from ~2 years in 2019.) Latest USP report: www.usp.org/news/long-la...
Long-lasting drug shortages drive average duration higher, disrupting patient care
Rockville, MD – May 7, 2025 – The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) today published its Annual Drug Shortages Report, which shows that long-standing, persistent shortages account for more than 90% of all drug s...
www.usp.org
May 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Drug shortages now last an average 4 years! (Up from ~2 years in 2019.) Latest USP report: www.usp.org/news/long-la...
Reposted by Allan Coukell
Well big news...Viany Prasad is the new director of CBER at FDA per internal email obtained by me. #healthpolicy
May 6, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Well big news...Viany Prasad is the new director of CBER at FDA per internal email obtained by me. #healthpolicy
Reposted by Allan Coukell
A wave of early retirements at OND and elsewhere across CDER recently took effect, following the April staff cuts t.co/I8lE4ZgtuR
https://endpts.com/more-fda-staff-leave-following-broad-firings-at-drug-agency/
t.co
April 30, 2025 at 7:43 PM
A wave of early retirements at OND and elsewhere across CDER recently took effect, following the April staff cuts t.co/I8lE4ZgtuR
A blessing for the Czar? GAO recommends that HHS create a cross-agency drug shortages coordinator. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Drug Shortages: HHS Should Implement a Mechanism to Coordinate Its Activities
Drug shortages are a serious public health problem affecting patient access to care, such as cancer treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened existing...
www.gao.gov
April 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
A blessing for the Czar? GAO recommends that HHS create a cross-agency drug shortages coordinator. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
@martawosinska.bsky.social has published a nice analysis of the likely impacts of tariffs on brand and generic drugs. Key takeaways on generic sterile injectables: Tariffs—
• May raise costs
• May cause shortages
• Will not be sufficient to drive onshoring
www.brookings.edu/articles/pha...
• May raise costs
• May cause shortages
• Will not be sufficient to drive onshoring
www.brookings.edu/articles/pha...
Will pharmaceutical tariffs achieve their goals?
Marta Wosińska explains the potential effects of tariffs on brand-name pharmaceuticals on drug shortages and onshoring.
www.brookings.edu
March 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
@martawosinska.bsky.social has published a nice analysis of the likely impacts of tariffs on brand and generic drugs. Key takeaways on generic sterile injectables: Tariffs—
• May raise costs
• May cause shortages
• Will not be sufficient to drive onshoring
www.brookings.edu/articles/pha...
• May raise costs
• May cause shortages
• Will not be sufficient to drive onshoring
www.brookings.edu/articles/pha...
Reposted by Allan Coukell
This right here is the reason Malthus was wrong.
We can feed the planet because staple crop yields have increased 3-fold over the last 60 years.
We can feed the planet because staple crop yields have increased 3-fold over the last 60 years.
Global cereal production has grown much faster than population in the last half-century
March 19, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This right here is the reason Malthus was wrong.
We can feed the planet because staple crop yields have increased 3-fold over the last 60 years.
We can feed the planet because staple crop yields have increased 3-fold over the last 60 years.
Reposted by Allan Coukell
Civica President and CEO Ned McCoy sat down with Becker's Hospital Review to highlight our unique business model and the status of our insulin initiative!
www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/ins...
www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/ins...
Inside Civica Rx's 2025 sourcing, expansion strategies
www.beckershospitalreview.com
March 13, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Civica President and CEO Ned McCoy sat down with Becker's Hospital Review to highlight our unique business model and the status of our insulin initiative!
www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/ins...
www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/ins...
Reposted by Allan Coukell
The Ukrainian government has a list of places where you can donate to the war effort here. I personally just donated $100: war.ukraine.ua/donate/
Slava Ukraini.
Slava Ukraini.
Donate to Ukraine’s defenders
The National Bank of Ukraine has decided to open a special fundraising account to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
war.ukraine.ua
February 28, 2025 at 7:26 PM
The Ukrainian government has a list of places where you can donate to the war effort here. I personally just donated $100: war.ukraine.ua/donate/
Slava Ukraini.
Slava Ukraini.
Reposted by Allan Coukell
Our colleagues at CivicaScript have remarkable news today – we are thrilled to announce that we’re lowering the price of CivicaScript’s lead product, Abiraterone! This is more proof that putting patients over profit is working!
Learn more at tinyurl.com/2rxc3585
Learn more at tinyurl.com/2rxc3585
February 24, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Our colleagues at CivicaScript have remarkable news today – we are thrilled to announce that we’re lowering the price of CivicaScript’s lead product, Abiraterone! This is more proof that putting patients over profit is working!
Learn more at tinyurl.com/2rxc3585
Learn more at tinyurl.com/2rxc3585
Reposted by Allan Coukell
@civicarx.bsky.social is proud to have the only generic sterile injectable production facility in the US that uses isolator technology across all our production lines. This state-of-the-art technology ensures maximum safety for Civica’s patients and team!
February 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
@civicarx.bsky.social is proud to have the only generic sterile injectable production facility in the US that uses isolator technology across all our production lines. This state-of-the-art technology ensures maximum safety for Civica’s patients and team!
"A rare display of public anger is unfolding in China over the quality of domestically produced drugs." www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/b...
In China, Rare Dissent Over a Program to Save on Drug Costs (Gift Article)
Top doctors raised concerns about domestically made drugs, saying Beijing’s effort to lower costs is sacrificing quality.
www.nytimes.com
January 28, 2025 at 9:59 PM
"A rare display of public anger is unfolding in China over the quality of domestically produced drugs." www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/b...
NYT on 340B. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/u...
January 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM
NYT on 340B. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/u...
We have flagged this very issue to Congress with respect to abiraterone. From the report: dispensing revenue at PBM-affiliated pharmacies in excess of acquisition cost [NADAC] = $52 million in Medicare D and $183 million in Commercial, (2021 data). And NADAC understates it.
FTC again pointing to massive markups (e.g. 5000%) that PBMs pay their own pharmacies. PBM response is essentially, "well, yes, but not on every drug." www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Largest Pharmacy-Benefit Managers Hiked Up Drug Prices, FTC Says
The markups helped the pharmacy-benefit managers reap $7.3 billion from 2017 to 2022, the FTC found.
www.wsj.com
January 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM
We have flagged this very issue to Congress with respect to abiraterone. From the report: dispensing revenue at PBM-affiliated pharmacies in excess of acquisition cost [NADAC] = $52 million in Medicare D and $183 million in Commercial, (2021 data). And NADAC understates it.
FTC again pointing to massive markups (e.g. 5000%) that PBMs pay their own pharmacies. PBM response is essentially, "well, yes, but not on every drug." www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Largest Pharmacy-Benefit Managers Hiked Up Drug Prices, FTC Says
The markups helped the pharmacy-benefit managers reap $7.3 billion from 2017 to 2022, the FTC found.
www.wsj.com
January 14, 2025 at 6:44 PM
FTC again pointing to massive markups (e.g. 5000%) that PBMs pay their own pharmacies. PBM response is essentially, "well, yes, but not on every drug." www.wsj.com/health/healt...
For those seeking to understand the fires in LA in a larger context, I highly recommend the book “Fire Weather” by John Vaillant. Among other things, he makes the point that modern homes are largely made of petroleum—vinyl siding, windows, furniture, etc. They all burn.
January 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM
For those seeking to understand the fires in LA in a larger context, I highly recommend the book “Fire Weather” by John Vaillant. Among other things, he makes the point that modern homes are largely made of petroleum—vinyl siding, windows, furniture, etc. They all burn.
Reposted by Allan Coukell
