A group of Dutch doctors and health advocates are taking action against an Italian pharmaceutical company, which has pushed through a 500-fold price increase of a life-saving drug.
The Dutch Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation, a non-profit group set up to tackle high drug prices, is set to file a claim this week with The Netherlands’ Authority for Consumers and Markets to probe alleged abuse of market power by Leadiant Biosciences over its drug chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA).
Wilbert Bannenberg, head of the foundation, said: “Some companies are misusing the system to get higher profits, and patients are being affected when cheap, affordable old products are no longer available. This may be legal but it’s not socially acceptable.”