There’s a new layer of drug-industry middlemen that could drive up costs for patients

Hello,

Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm healthcare editor Leah Rosenbaum, and today in healthcare news:

• Drug-industry middlemen have a new plan for drumming up profits — at the expense of patients;
• A gene editing pioneer is exploring new ways to treat Alzheimer's disease;
• Major health systems share their top new tech projects. 

If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Comments, tips? Email me at [email protected] or tweet @leah_rosenbaum. Let's get to it…

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Powerful drug-industry middlemen have quietly launched businesses to get better deals from drugmakers. It could drive up costs for patients.

• Powerful drug-industry middlemen have quietly reorganized the prescription-drug supply chain.
• They've set up group-purchasing organizations to get more leverage when negotiating with drugmakers.
• Industry insiders say these new entities will drive up costs for employers and patients.

Read our deep dive>>

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As gene-editing moves mainstream, a pioneer in the field is testing whether it could prevent Alzheimer's

• Scientist and biotech cofounder David Liu is one of the pioneers of drugs that can edit DNA.
• His lab is developing therapy that could prevent Alzheimer's by installing a protective gene.
• Liu was named one of Insider's 100 People Transforming Business in 2021.

Check it out>>

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We asked major health systems to share the promising tech projects they are testing at hospitals. Here are 8 that are taking off.

• Hospitals across the country are trying out new tech to make care more convenient and efficient.
• Leaders at eight large health systems gave us a look at the most innovative pilots they're running. 
• They're seeing which projects are worth investing in down the line. 

See more>>

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More stories we're reading:

• Fauci says you don't need to wear a mask for family gatherings this Thanksgiving – but only if everyone is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (Insider)
• Black Americans are being disproportionately affected by medical debt from hospitals (Bloomberg)
• COVID-19 increases the risk of stillbirth for pregnant women — 65% of whom still aren't vaccinated (Insider)
• A woman won a lawsuit against the doctors who lowered her husband's pain medications (STAT)

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-Leah