• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

MassDevice

The Medical Device Business Journal — Medical Device News & Articles | MassDevice

  • Latest News
  • Technologies
    • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    • Cardiovascular
    • Orthopedics
    • Neurological
    • Diabetes
    • Surgical Robotics
  • Business & Finance
    • Wall Street Beat
    • Earnings Reports
    • Funding Roundup
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Initial Public Offering (IPO)
    • Legal News
    • Personnel Moves
    • Medtech 100 Stock Index
  • Regulatory & Compliance
    • Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
    • Recalls
    • 510(k)
    • Pre-Market Approval (PMA)
    • MDSAP
    • Clinical Trials
  • Special Content
    • Special Reports
    • In-Depth Coverage
    • DeviceTalks
  • Podcasts
    • MassDevice Fast Five
    • DeviceTalks Weekly
    • OEM Talks
      • AbbottTalks
      • Boston ScientificTalks
      • DeviceTalks AI
      • IntuitiveTalks
      • MedtechWOMEN Talks
      • MedtronicTalks
      • Neuro Innovation Talks
      • Ortho Innovation Talks
      • Structural Heart Talks
      • StrykerTalks
  • Resources
    • About MassDevice
    • DeviceTalks
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Leadership in Medtech
    • Manufacturers & Suppliers Search
    • MedTech100 Index
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
Home » Senate panel approves HHS nominee Azar

Senate panel approves HHS nominee Azar

January 18, 2018 By Sarah Faulkner

Capitol Hill tax reformThe Senate finance committee has approved president Donald Trump’s nominee for chief of the Dept. of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar. The former drug company executive is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate.

If confirmed, Azar will succeed Tom Price, who was forced out after reports from Politico revealed he often used pricey charter jets on the taxpayer’s dime. Senate Republicans have argued that Azar, who previously worked as president of Eli Lilly‘s (NYSE:LLY) U.S. business, will be an asset to HHS given his experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

At his confirmation hearing last week, Senate Democrats probed Azar about his time at Eli Lilly, criticizing the nominee for drug price hikes that took place while he was working there.

Azar has repeatedly said that drug prices are too high and has largely stuck to traditionally-conservative talking points when asked about how he would aim to bring prices down – encourage competition from generics and prevent companies from gaming the patent system.

Azar worked as general counsel for HHS from 2001 to 2005 under president George W. Bush. He also served as the department’s deputy secretary for two years.

At Azar’s confirmation hearing before the Senate finance committee, Sen. Ron Wyden (D.-Ore.) asked Azar if he ever lowered the price of drug made by Lilly.

“I don’t know that there is any drug price of a branded product that has ever gone down from any company on any drug in the United States because every incentive in this system is toward higher prices,” Azar reportedly explained.

“And that is where we can do things together working as the government to get at this. No one company is going to fix that system, that’s why I want to be here working with you.”

Filed Under: Healthcare Reform, Pharmaceutical, Wall Street Beat Tagged With: Eli Lilly & Co., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

More recent news

  • Neuralink files to raise $649M in new equity offering
  • BofA: Surgical robot remanufacturing not a major setback for Intuitive
  • InspireMD wins CE Mark approval for CGuard Prime
  • Philips reports first cases for VeriSight Pro 3D ICE catheter in Europe
  • Ceryx Medical raises $15M to support bioelectronic pacemaker

Primary Sidebar

“md
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest med device regulatory, business and technology news.

DeviceTalks Weekly

See More >

MEDTECH 100 Stock INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
MDO ad

Footer

MASSDEVICE MEDICAL NETWORK

DeviceTalks
Drug Delivery Business News
Medical Design & Outsourcing
Medical Tubing + Extrusion
Drug Discovery & Development
Pharmaceutical Processing World
MedTech 100 Index
R&D World
Medical Design Sourcing

DeviceTalks Webinars, Podcasts, & Discussions

Attend our Monthly Webinars
Listen to our Weekly Podcasts
Join our DeviceTalks Tuesdays Discussion

MASSDEVICE

Subscribe to MassDevice E-Newsletter
Advertise with us
About
Contact us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy