Laura Newman
I am a medical journalist and blogger. My stories have appeared in peer-reviewed journals and on the web. In Patient POV, I strive to bring the same rigor to telling stories about patients that I have shown in my previous work, which has featured research scientists and physicians.
Laura can be found on Twitter as @lauranewmanny.
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Category Archives: Drug costs
Delay of Generics Hurts Consumer,Taxpayer Wallets, and Patient Health
Tweet To insure patent extensions of high-priced, blockbuster drugs, brand-name drug companies frequently pay generic drug manufacturers to stay out of the market. It makes cheaper, more affordable generic unavailable for years. The strategy is referred to as “Pay … Continue reading
Why Sanofi’s Zaltrap Deal Won’t Help Patients
Tweet I got excited when I read the New York Times story Nov. 9 (“Sanofi Halves Price of Cancer Drug Zaltrap After Sloan-Kettering Rejection)”. Zaltrap is an intravenous infusion drug for metastatic colorectal cancer. It is used for advanced cancer … Continue reading
Posted in Drug costs
Tagged colon cancer, copays, pharmaceutical companies, Sanofi, value-based healthcare, Zaltrap
1 Comment
When the Pharmaceutical Benefit Manager Won’t Let You Go On Vacation
Tweet I leave for vacation in the morning and it was not music to my ears when I heard that the pharmaceutical benefit manager (PBM), the company that reviews your drug use for your health plan or employer, denied an … Continue reading
5 Reasons Why I Find This Year’s Allergy Season
Especially Aggravating
Tweet 1. Allegra, the non-sedating antihistamine has gone over the counter, with nearly psychedelic purple boxes knocking me down when I go into my local drugstore. It has also skyrocketed in cost. That means people with allergies are paying far … Continue reading
Posted in allergies, cost shifting, Drug costs, OTC drugs
Tagged allergies, drug costs, global warming, OTC drugs
2 Comments
On Disclosure, Transparency, and Firewalls: A Call for Uniform Standards
Tweet Since Patient POV was launched March 29, I have been struggling with how to deal with the issue of industry-supported patient advocacy groups. On Thursday, ProPublica released its paper: “Financial Ties Bind Medical Societies to Drug and Device Makers” … Continue reading
What the Macular Degeneration Drug Trial Means
Tweet Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness. The advanced form of the disease affects 1.6 million people in the United States. That’s why results from the first year of a two-year clinical trial that … Continue reading