WASHINGTON — Two top Democratic lawmakers are demanding information from a drug company that’s raised prices on a leukemia drug.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland wrote ARIAD Pharmaceuticals on Thursday and asked about price increases for Iclusig. It’s used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia in some people.
The company has raised the cost of the drug four times in 2016, to an almost $200,000 annual cost. That’s an increase of more than $80,000 over the past several years.
Sanders and Cummings also say they’re investigating whether the company tried to boost profits by tweaking pill dosages and quantities to charge insurers and patients more for less medicine.
Cummings is the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
