CLINUVEL Newsletter – May 2017
10 May 2017
I look back at a turbulent period, as CLINUVEL has brought the ‘negotiations’ with GKV-Spitzenverband (National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds in Germany) to a successful end. Key observations from this procedure are that insurers are coordinating efforts internationally to cull healthcare costs, and will come up with any conceivable argument to lower prices of pharmaceuticals irrespective of prior investments, manufacturing and distribution costs, post-marketing expenses, company’s structure, and obligatory ongoing research for children. The GKV-Spitzenverband is leading European insurers in curtailing the position of pharmaceutical companies, appeared very well prepared, and left no stone unturned in its attempt to end the existence of CLINUVEL. From our perspective there was only going to be one outcome for CLINUVEL to survive and continue to serve European EPP patients. The outcome is known to CLINUVEL’s stakeholders.