Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. To Those Standing With Patients: Thank You
- Building on two national ads launched last weekend, P4ADNow launched a seven-figure ad buy on Tuesday thanking representatives across 12 House districts for supporting Medicare negotiation. The new ads, which counter Big Pharma’s recent attack ads against H.R. 3, will run through August recess and feature three patients who have struggled with high drug prices. “Right now, there’s a plan in Congress to let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices,” says the ad in Kansas’ third congressional district. “Sharice Davids supports it. Representative Davids, thank you.” — (Endpoints News)
2. “Put The Patients First”
- In a new op-ed, Rep. Tim Ryan debunks pharma’s innovation myth and calls on his colleagues to pass H. R. 3 and allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices on behalf of Americans. “There’s never been a better time to deliver than now, as Congress contemplates a historic stimulus package that will reshape the economy and make long-overdue improvements in key areas,” he writes. “We must allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices so that Ohioans and all Americans get the affordable medications they need. Families and seniors can’t afford to wait.” — (Akron Beacon Journal)
3. A Profitable Pandemic
- As the Biden administration announces plans for COVID-19 booster shots, vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna are expected to rake in billions more in revenue. Analysts now forecast global vaccine sales of $74 billion for Pfizer and partner BioNTech and $35 billion for Moderna through 2022. Though the companies took billions of dollars in government funding to help bring the vaccines to market, Pfizer has raised its U.S. price from $19.50 to $24 per dose, and Moderna’s U.S. price has increased from $15 to $16.50 per dose. Americans continue to grapple with the uncertainty of this public health crisis, but one thing is clear: Drug companies are profiteering off a pandemic. — (The Wall Street Journal, Reuters)
One more thing: Watch HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra discuss the need for lower drug prices and how President Biden’s plan balances pricing and innovation in a segment for Yahoo! Finance.