Ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, here’s a reminder that Humira generates more in revenue than these two teams AND ALL THE OTHERS COMBINED.
Welcome to the Week in Review.
- Big Pharma’s Big Lie
- A new report from P4AD debunks one of pharma’s most commonly cited claims that lowering drug prices will destroy its ability to develop innovative new medications for patients. Fact: Reducing pharmaceutical profits within reasonable levels would not harm innovation, and the most innovative new drugs — those that represent clinical advances — are often funded in part by taxpayers. Patients care about innovation more than anyone else, and we won’t let drug corporations hold us hostage with another one of their lies. — (P4AD)
2. Open Your Books
- Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, both companies with a COVID-19 vaccine, are fighting to block shareholder resolutions seeking transparency into pharma’s pricing practices. Despite the fact that public money helped finance COVID-19 vaccines, when it comes to price, pharma wants to keep hiding in the shadows. — (Newsweek)
3. States Get The Ball Rolling
- There is growing evidence that in the absence of federal action, states will act. This week, state legislatures and governors around the country jump-started efforts to lower drug prices. A Montana Senate committee heard testimony for a bill that would increase transparency into drug prices, while lawmakers in New Jersey and New York are aiming to pass legislation to establish or strengthen insulin copay caps.Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker proposed penalizing drug makers for price gouging, and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers revealed a slate of drug pricing proposals, including the establishment of a prescription pricing review board. We stand ready to support these efforts! — (Montana Free Press, WNYC, CommonWealth Magazine, AP)