Two prominent Democrats charge that the prices of vital heart drugs are being jacked up, and they want to know why.
Presidential candidate and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., wrote a letter Friday to Valeant Pharmaceuticals inquiring about two heart drugs. The letter is part of a larger investigation into prices by the lawmakers, and the latest outcry over high prices for drugs.
Sanders and Cummings wrote that the prices for the heart medications Isuprel and Nitropress increased by about 525 percent and 212 percent respectively over the last six months.
“It is unconscionable when drug companies take advantage of consumers by artificially inflating the prices of essential medications just to increase profits,” said Cummings in a press release Thursday.
Valeant acquired the two drugs from Marathon Pharmaceuticals in February. Isuprel treats heart attacks or congestive heart failure and Nitropress lowers blood pressure.
Both members want Valeant to provide information from February to now on the gross revenue from drug sales, prices paid for the drugs, and any material changes to production that may warrant the huge spike.
The lawmakers also wrote to manufacturer Hospira, which makes the two heart drugs. They want to know the drug maker’s expenses for producing them.
Drug prices are becoming a big concern for lawmakers and insurers who have to grapple with high-cost specialty drugs.
