SCIENCE IN THE NEWS DAILY
Diabetes Drug Costs Are Soaring
from the Philadelphia Inquirer
CHICAGO (Associated Press)—Americans with diabetes nearly doubled their spending on drugs for the disease in just six years, with the bill last year climbing to an eye-popping $12.5 billion.
Newer, costlier drugs are driving the increase, said researchers, despite a lack of strong evidence for the new drugs' greater benefits and safety. And there are more people being treated for diabetes. The new study follows updated treatment advice for Type 2 diabetes, issued last week. In those recommendations, an expert panel told doctors to use older, cheaper drugs first.
And a second study, also out yesterday, adds to evidence that metformin—an inexpensive generic used reliably for decades—may prevent deaths from heart disease while the newer, more expensive Avandia didn't show that benefit.
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