U.S. drug company sues Canada for trying to lower cost of $700K-a-year drug

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. drug company sues Canada for trying to lower cost of $700K-a-year drug
Published: September 25, 2015

Source: CBC

A U.S. drug company is taking the Canadian government to court for its attempt to lower the price of what has been called the world's most expensive drug.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals has filed a motion in Federal Court, arguing that Canada's drug price watchdog has no authority to force the company to lower its price for Soliris.

'This is the single greatest threat to pricing of drugs in Canada ever.' - Amir Attaran, health law expert

The company says in the court documents that the price of Soliris has not changed since it went on the market about six years ago and that the price difference between the two countries reflects the difference in exchange rates between the U.S. and Canada.

The medication is approved to treat two rare blood diseases that affect about one in every one million people. A 12-month treatment costs about $700,000 in Canada, while in the U.S. it costs about $669,000.

More:
http://www.blacklistednews.com/U.S._drug_company_sues_Canada_for_trying_to_lower_cost_of_%24700K-a-year_drug/46323/0/38/38/Y/M.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. TPP and etc will make this sort of suit legal globally. n/t

[nenagh]

2. K&R

[napi21]

3. Oh, for god sake. They're actually spending $$ to sue over such a small amt?

I believe Canada stating the diff. is the exchange rate. This co. co. is nuts. The lawyers who do these kind of cases will cost them more in fees than they could recover, and I suspect a judge will side with Canada.