Inside E Street

Guests

E Street 237 Roger Williams

Roger Williams, MD

CEO – U.S. Pharmacopeia

A pharmaceutical expert, Dr. Williams heads the professional organization that sets drug standards in America.

E Street 237 Diane Dorman

Diane Dorman

National Organization for Rare Disorders

Diane Dorman is the Vice President for Public Policy at the National Organization for Rare Disorders, which represents 25 million Americans who have one of more than 6,000 known rare diseases.

E Street 237 Gene Green

Rep. Gene Green

D-Texas

Representing the Houston area in Congress since 1992, Rep. Green sits on the House Subcommittee on Health and has signed onto “The Pathway for Biosimilars Act.”

E Street 237 Frank Pallone

Rep. Frank Pallone

D-New Jersey

The Chairman of the House Health Subcommittee, Rep. Pallone is one of the co-sponsors of “The Access to Lifesaving Medicine Act.”

Additional Links

  • U.S. Pharmacopeia, the organization headed by our guest, Dr. Roger Williams, is the organization responsible for setting standards for all the drugs sold in the United States.
  • The Biotechnology Industry Organization is the world's largest biotechnology organization, providing advocacy, business development and communications services for more than 1,200 members worldwide.

 

'Inside E Street' Archives

Cooling Down Drug Prices

Prescription drug prices are heating up despite a cooling economy. Biotech companies are creating cutting-edge drugs made from living cells.  Called “biologics,” these new drugs come to market at explosive prices.  The battle has begun on Capitol Hill to lower the prices of these life-saving medicines by allowing companies to manufacture “generic” versions.

We talk to members of Congress and pharmaceutical experts about cooling down drug prices.

SEGMENTS

E Street 237 Researcher Segment 1

Biologics

We talk with someone who could benefit from lower prices for biologics, and learn how they are created.

Then, Dr. Roger Williams of the U.S. Pharmacopeia joins Sheilah to discuss the cutting-edge technology that is making these life-saving drugs.

E Street 237 Sheila plus guests Seg 2

The Need for Generics

Biologics are extraordinarily expensive.  Diane Dorman of the National Organization for Rare Disorders joins Sheilah and Dr. Williams to discuss the need for generic biologics or “bio-similar” drugs.

E Street 237 Obama

President Obama Addresses “Biologics”

He tackles the issue in an April 27, 2009 speech at the National Academy of Sciences.

E Street 237 Sheila plus Gene Green Seg 3

Innovation

Rep. Gene Green of Texas joins us to talk about a bill that would provide a pathway for bringing “bio-similar” drugs to market after a period of market exclusivity for the brand-name versions.

E Street 237 Sheila plus Frank Pallone Seg 4

Access

Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey joins Sheilah from Capitol Hill to discuss a bill he is co-sponsoring that would bring “bio-similar” drugs to market.

Resources

  • AARP Health has a series of articles and resources on healthy living, exercise & wellness, and Medicare & drug benefits.
  • This 2007 Fact Sheet from AARP’s Public Policy Institute gives some background details on the high cost of biologic drugs.
  • Read issues of AARP Watchdog Report, the publication that monitors the pricing, legislative and public policies of the world’s pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Sheila

The Host

Through most of her distinguished reporting career, Sheilah Kast has focused on the economy and workplace and how they affect people's lives. Well known to viewers of public television, ABC News, and CNN, she has covered the White House and Congress.

Kast also reported on the Washington aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Her stories included an investigation of anthrax in the mails and the struggles of bereaved Pentagon families to secure benefits.

At The Washington Star, in her first reporting job, Kast covered financial regulation, taxes, and energy. Her expertise in these important issues eventually led her to start a national public-television show, "This Week in Business," which she hosted in association with Business Week magazine.

Ms. Kast is a skilled interviewer. She has often hosted NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday and has her own current-affairs interview show on public radio in Maryland.

Contact Us

Inside E Street - AARP
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P.O. Box 50239
Washington, D.C. 20091-9998
E-mail: estreet@aarp.org

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