Lakeland Regional Medical Center is suing the drugmaker, Astellas Pharma, alleging the company violated antitrust laws in marketing its version of the drug adenosine. The hospital wants the case designated a class action lawsuit. It reports several thousand hospital and other providers use Astellas’ method of administering adenosine, and “a substantial number” of them have been forced to buy the drug.
Adenosine, used to dilate blood vessels, is given to patients unable to use treadmills during cardiac stress tests and often in tests involving treadmills. The lawsuit says Astellas Pharma charges $8.05 a milliliter for its adenosine products, more than four times what competitors charge, and supplies more than 90 percent of the adenosine used in cardiac stress tests nationwide, generating more than $100 million a year in sales.
Astellas Pharma officials did not respond to a request for comment.
Read the Tampa Tribune report on Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
Read more coverage on drugmakers:
– Survey: Half of Patients Think Physicians are Too Eager to Prescribe Drugs
– N.Y. Governor Proposes Ban on Industry Gifts to Physicians
– Democrats Look to Pharmaceutical Industry to Add $10B for Healthcare Reform
At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.
