
Democrats Want to Subpoena Valeant Pharmaceuticals Over Drug Price Increase
Democratic members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform are requesting a subpoena for documents withheld by Valeant Pharmaceuticals.
On Sept. 28, 2015, Democratic members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform asked Chairman Jason Chaffetz to issue a subpoena to Valeant Pharmaceuticals to compel the company to turn over documents regarding price increases for Nitropress (sodium nitroprusside injection) and Isuprel (isoproterenol), which treat heart conditions. Valeant increased the prices of the drugs by 212% and 525%, respectively, after buying the drugs in February 2015.
The Democrats’ letter states, “we believe it is critical to hold drug companies to account when they engage in ‘a business strategy of buying old neglected drugs and turning them into high-priced specialty drugs’.”
In May 2015, ranking member Rep. Elijah E. Cummings asked Committee Chairman Chaffetz to hold a hearing on the drug increases. After Chaffetz declined, ranking members Cummings and Senator Bernie Sanders sent a
The letter to Chaffetz states, “since Valeant Pharmaceuticals has refused to provide any documents to Congress to explain its massive price increases for these two heart drugs, we request that the committee issue a subpoena compelling Valeant to turn over this information.” The letter also says that even after Valeant purchased the rights to both Isuprel and Nitropress from Marathon Pharmaceuticals, Hospira continued to manufacture the drugs, implying that the price increases could not be attributed to changes in manufacturing.
The Democrats are also requesting that Valeant’s CEO be invited to testify at a
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