U.S. Lawmaker Launches Investigation Into Pharma Drug Pricing

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking member Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD) is seen in the office after speaking about former national security adviser Michael Flynn at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on April 27, 2017. Yuri Gripas/Reuters

A top U.S. lawmaker launched an investigation into pharmaceutical industry pricing practices on Jan. 14, less than a week after he and fellow Democrats introduced legislation aimed at lowering medicine prices.

Representative Elijah Cummings, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, sent letters to 12 drugmakers seeking information on price increases, investment in research and development, and corporate strategies to preserve market share and pricing power, his office said in a statement.