Drugmakers Pressed to Explain Pricing as House Panel Opens Probe

House Democrats began what they said would be a wide-ranging investigation into how the pharmaceutical industry sets prices, moving quickly on an issue where there appears to be accord with the White House.

The Committee on Oversight and Reform asked for detailed information about pricing practices from a dozen companies on specific medications, including bestsellers such as AbbVie Inc.’s Humira and Amgen Inc.’s Enbrel, which are used to treat autoimmune diseases; Pfizer Inc.’s pain drug Lyrica; and Sanofi’s diabetes treatment Lantus.

Also under scrutiny are medications available in generic formulations, including AstraZeneca Plc’s cholesterol medicine Crestor and Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries ...