Three. More. Days. Welcome to the Week In Review.
1. Ten Years A Cancer Patient
- On the 10th anniversary of his multiple myeloma diagnosis, David Mitchell, the founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs, reflects on his journey and the power of the patient voice in calling for lower drug prices. “Cancer broke my back, but it stiffened my spine. And every day I am inspired by my fellow patients in this fight. They are the key to change. They are the reason we will win.” — (Morning Consult)
2. Send Him Packing
- As candidates across the country commit to lowering drug prices, one senator stands apart from the rest in his refusal to do so: Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina. Tillis has repeatedly backed pharmaceutical companies instead of standing up for patients. — (STAT)
3. Risky Investments
- The federal government is paying Eli Lilly $375 million for 300,000 doses of its potential COVID-19 treatment, with the option of securing 650,000 more doses for an additional $812.5 million. At $1,250 per dose, it’s a hefty price to pay for a drug that U.S. taxpayers helped to develop. — (Reuters)
4. Paying in Advance
- Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries will receive FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines without paying additional out-of-pocket fees, according to a new policy announced by the Trump administration Wednesday. This is welcome news, but let’s not forget that taxpayers have already paid billions of dollars for vaccine development. — (The Hill)
5. The Very Definition of Pandemic Profiteering
- Pharma executives at a dozen companies making COVID-19 vaccines and treatments have cashed in $1.3 billion worth of stock since March. What’s worse, companies like Moderna have $2.5 billion in taxpayer cash committed to test, produce, and eventually sell 100 million doses of its vaccine candidate right back to the government that fully funded it. Taxpayers are taking on the risk — while drug company insiders get rich. — (The Boston Globe)