Topic: Humira

Executives from the three largest Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)—CVS Caremark, Cigna Express Scripts, and UnitedHealth Optum—faced a bipartisan grilling in Congress. They are accused of inflating drug costs and squeezing independent pharmacies. Representative Ro Khanna cited a case of a child denied arthritis medication for six months due to PBM bureaucracy, while executives claimed they saved clients $64 billion.

Pfizer expects to earn $36 billion from COVID-19 vaccine sales this year, potentially breaking the record for a single pharmaceutical product previously held by Humira. Moderna is projected to reach $18 billion in sales. Analysts discuss the uncertainty of long-term mRNA revenue and the industry's current focus on maximizing sales through booster shots.

The opioid crisis is discussed in the context of the book "Dreamland," detailing the history of pill mills and pharmaceutical marketing. A theory is proposed that President Trump could cripple mainstream media by banning direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising, which accounted for over $5 billion in television spending in 2016 for drugs like Humira and Jublia.

Advertisements for the drug Humira list a wide array of severe side effects, including tuberculosis, lymphoma, and heart failure, while treating skin conditions. This is contrasted with legal advertisements seeking plaintiffs for lawsuits involving drugs like Pradaxa and Actos. The segment highlights the "sick" nature of an industry that markets dangerous drugs and then profits from the resulting litigation.