AstraZeneca, one of several pharmaceutical companies working through the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed program to fast track a coronavirus vaccine, has been raising prices despite receiving $1.2 billion from American taxpayers, reports The Los Angeles Times.
The price of some AstraZeneca drugs has increased by up to 6 percent, according to an investigation by the Times and 46brooklynResearch, a nonprofit group focusing on the pharmaceutical industry.
"It's outrageous for Big Pharma to use the pandemic as an opportunity to raise prices on life-saving medicine," Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., tweeted on Monday. "Big drug companies don't need more subsidies. We need to end their greed."
Reuters on Monday reported that AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine trial remains on hold in the United States pending an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration into a serious side effect in Britain even as other trials of the vaccine resume.
The company (AZN) refused to discuss its pricing practices.
“We recognize the challenges many Americans are facing and remain committed to ensuring patients are able to access our medicines,” the company said in a statement to the Times.
News of the price hike came one day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order he said would lower prescription drugs.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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