Case Studies | The Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation

Holding pharmaceutical industry actors to account

Our legal, medical, and technical policy experts have collected examples where pharmaceutical companies are suspected of using their monopolies to charge excessive prices for their medicines. “Cases of interest” are medicines the Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation deems worthy of research to determine if their high prices are resulting from unjust practices; under “Legal action” are cases where either the Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation or another public health organisation has found adequate evidence of malfeasance to bring a case against the owning pharmaceutical company.

PAF also gathers and shares its legal expertise in a living guidance document for other non-governmental organisations.

Current Legal Actions

Legal Guidelines

Cases of Interest

High-priced medicines we are researching for potential evidence of misconduct or poor pricing practices. Click on the medicine name to learn more.

Adalimumab (Humira)

Adalimumab (brand name: Humira) is a prescription drug for rheumatoid arthritis that was first brought to the market in 2003 by the company Abbott (now, AbbVie).

Legal Action

Examples of medicines where evidence justified legal action (either ongoing or completed) to stop unfair pricing practices. Click on the medicine name to learn more.

Chenodeoxycholic Acid (CDCA Leadiant)

CDCA treats a rare disease called Cerebrotendinous Xanthomathosis (CTX), which prevents the body from processing cholesterols.

Other Cases of Interest:

mexiletine (Namuscla, message in Dutch only)
pyrimethamine (Daraprim)
lithium (Priadel)

Get involved!

We investigate practices around the accessibility and availability of medicines, and call pharmaceutical companies to account if these are unacceptable. If necessary, we take legal action. But we cannot do this alone – please support us!

By signing our endorsement letter, you show that our work is supported by many people, this may have added value in a legal action. By donating or by joining as a volunteer you make us even more decisive. We would love to hear how you want to get involved: please contact us.