Teva launches ‘Patient First’ project

WASHINGTON The world’s largest generic drug maker has started an initiative to tell stories of Americans who have difficulty paying for their prescription medications, and push for a regulatory approval pathway for biosimilars.

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA announced Thursday the “Patient First” project, part of its broader Year of Affordable Healthcare campaign.

One story is of Rob Day, who was diagnosed at age 19 with the rare blood disorder paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, for which he must take an unspecified biotech drug that costs him $389,000 a year. Teva said a Food and Drug Administration approval pathway for biosimilars would help lower prices for drugs like the one Day takes.