Robbery ???

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In a period of low inflation and sluggish economic growth, Drug makers’ power to raise prices still exceeds most other industries. The magnitude and frequency of the increases have grown in recent years.

Prices received by manufacturers of U.S.-made pharmaceuticals rose 9.8% from May 2015 through May 2016, the second-highest increase among the 20 largest products and services tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index. 

Biogen Inc.  reported that U.S. sales of its multiple sclerosis pill Tecfidera rose 15% to $744.3 million in the first quarter, the company explained it “was primarily due to price increases.” U.S. revenue for Biogen’s other biggest-selling products, Avonex and Tysabri, also benefited from higher prices, Biogen said.

Gilead Sciences Inc. said higher U.S. prices positively affected revenue for four HIV medications that had combined global sales of $2.43 billion in the first quarter. For example, sales of Truvada rose 16% to $898 million in the quarter on the back of higher prices and increased use as a preventive treatment for HIV.

Amgen raised Enbrel’s U.S. list price by 28% last year, and an additional 9.9% in July, according to Leerink.  A Pfizer spokesman declined to specifically address the company’s price increases. 

Some reports projected that per-beneficiary Part D spending will grow by 75% from 2015 to 2025, compared with a 37% rise in hospital spending and 57% increase in doctors’ cost.

Make the pills' market Fair for senior citizen.    Just a thought.