Pushing Back Against the Tufts University Drug R&D Cost Study
February 3, 2015. Following the direction of Tufts University President Anthony Monaco, UACT sent a letter to the principal researchers of the study on drug R&D costs, Joseph DiMasi of Tufts University, as well as Henry Grabowski of Duke University and Ronald Hansen of the University of Rochester. The letter to Dr. DiMasi reiterated our concerns about the lack of details about the study data, funding, and applicability to cancer drugs. Dr. DiMasi’s reply will be posted on this page when received by UACT.
A brief recap of the UACT actions in response to the new drug R&D cost study conducted by the Tufts University Center for the Study of Drug Development:
December 8, 2014. UACT received a brief letter from Anthony P. Monaco, President of Tufts University, in response to our letter below requesting more information and transparency surrounding the drug R&D cost study. In his reply, he directed all questions to the principal researchers of the study.
November 24, 2014. UACT letter to Anthony P. Monaco, Office of the President, Tufts University, copies to Michael Baenen, Chief of Staff, and Peter Dolan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Tufts University, regarding the Tufts University press conference to announce an estimate of $2.6 billion as the R&D costs for new drugs. The letter asks Tufts to provide more transparency about the funding of the press conference and the study, and to answer several questions about the relevance of the study to new treatments for cancer.