Trending News Today: Johnson & Johnson Raises Prices on Drug Products

Patients for Affordable Drugs, a drug pricing advocacy group, announced a roughly $1 million ad campaign to boost the Trump administration’s proposal to lower drug prices, STAT reported. According to the article, the ad campaign will endorse a policy concept that seeks to align American drug prices with those in other wealthy nations. The campaign supports Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar’s plan to limit Medicare payments for physician-administered drugs to approximately 26% above prices in certain developed nations compared with the current level of 80%, the article reported.

On Thursday, Johnson & Johnson raised US prices on 2 dozen prescription drugs, including some of its top-selling products, Reuters reported. According to the article, data from Rx Savings Solutions showed most of the price increases were between 6% and 7% and J&J said the average list price increase on its drugs will be 4.2% this year. Psoriasis treatment Stelara, prostate cancer drug Zytiga, and blood thinner Xarelto were all included in the price hikes, the article reported.

A new analysis found that diets high in fiber may be linked to lower risk of death and chronic diseases, CNN reported. According to the article, the researchers analyzed 180 observational studies and 50 clinical trials from the past 40 years. The analysis found a 15% to 30% reduced risk of death and chronic diseases in individuals who included the most fiber in their diets compared with those with the lowest intake, the article reported.