Marc O'Connor

Three of the most heavily invested players in the pharmaceutical industry are at odds. Pharma manufacturers need to recoup R&D costs and demonstrate accountability to leadership and shareholders, keeping drug prices as high as possible before their patents expire. PBMs are responsible for driving down costs for their plan sponsors, frequently engaging in hard negotiations with manufacturers. Pharmacists are often afterthoughts to the conversation, even though they are arguably the healthcare providers with more ability to influence patient outcomes and maximize the value of high-cost medication therapies than any other member of the care continuum.