Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. Already, the Pharmalot campus has been bustling as the official mascots have been busy chasing assorted creatures in search of their breakfast. As for us, yes, we are firing up the trusty kettle once again and brewing another cuppa stimulation. Our choice today is Earl Gray. Now, though, the time has come to get still busier. On that note, here are some tidbits. Have a lovely day and do keep in touch. \u2026<\/p>\n
As links between pharmaceutical companies and telehealth providers grow, health policy experts and legislators are raising concerns over the large fees that telehealth companies can receive from drugmakers each year<\/strong>, STAT explains. Critics have questioned whether those partnerships break federal laws prohibiting financial kickbacks to induce prescribing, highlighting their potential to promote uncoordinated care and overprescriping of unnecessary, and often expensive, branded medications.\u00a0The same questions apply to coupons extended for a drug-specific telehealth visit. Drugmakers have long used discount coupons to encourage patients to use their high-cost medications. But coupons can influence not just the out-of-pocket price for the drug, but the cost of consulting with a clinician who can prescribe it.\u00a0<\/p>\n U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told \u200ba Senate hearing on Wednesday that he had nothing to do with a U.S. Food and Drug Administration \u200cdecision to not approve Replimune\u2019s\u00a0advanced skin cancer drug, saying it was in the hands of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary,<\/strong> Reuters writes. Earlier this month, the FDA declined \u200bto approve the drug after taking issue with the company\u2019s reliance on a single\u2011arm \u2060study for the drug without a control group. In its letter, the FDA said the company\u00a0must provide data\u00a0from a well-controlled trial demonstrating adequate evidence of effectiveness. \u201cThis decision comes out of FDA, and we trust \u200bthe process there. And I\u2019ve been told by Marty Makary that every panel that looked at that drug unanimously voted against it \u2026 because it does not appear to work,\u201d Kennedy said. An op-ed in The Wall Street Journal maintained Kennedy\u2019s comments were not true and cited cancer doctors who have worked on trials of the drug and said it was effective.<\/p>\n STAT+ Exclusive Story<\/p>\n Already have an account? Log in<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n Already have an account? Log in<\/p>\n![\"STAT+\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/stat\/images\/stat-plus-breaker-bg.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"STAT+\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/stat\/images\/stat-plus-logo-white.svg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nThis article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers<\/h2>\n
Unlock this article \u2014 plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts.<\/h3>\n