Patient Advocacy Drives Progress On Patent Reform, Generic Drug Access, And PBM Accountability To Lower Drug Prices For Patients
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow) is pleased to see critical drug pricing reforms included in the health care package attached to the continuing resolution (CR) released today. These measures are a significant step towards lowering prescription drug prices for millions of Americans by tackling Big Pharma’s patent abuses, enabling generic competition, and reforming the drug supply chain.
The CR includes:
– S.150, the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act: which limits the number of patents pharmaceutical companies can assert on biologics, clearing the path for earlier entry of lower-cost biosimilars into the market. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates this reform could save taxpayers $1.8 billion over 10 years.
– Q1/Q2, a provision of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act: addresses a critical barrier to generic drug approvals by requiring the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide clearer guidance on ingredient differences, saving generic manufacturers time and money in bringing affordable alternatives to market. The CBO estimates this reform would save taxpayers $871 million over 10 years.
– S.2973, the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability Act: would delink pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) revenue from drug prices in Medicare Part D, curbing incentives that lead PBMs to steer patients toward more expensive prescription drugs, and would require PBMs to report on drug pricing and other information to Part D plan sponsors.
“The inclusion of these bills is an important step toward reforming the whole U.S. drug price system which has been rigged against patients. These reforms are critical to further lowering drug prices for all and signal that Congress listened to patients and an overwhelming majority of Americans who have been calling for further action to address the root causes of high drug costs,” said Merith Basey, Executive Director of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “We commend the bipartisan leaders who championed these measures and the patients who continue to drive forward the change they deserve. Now, Congress must act swiftly to make these reforms law and deliver meaningful relief to those struggling to afford their medications.”
In July 2023, P4ADNow launched the “Push for Competition to Lower Drug Prices” campaign, which highlighted the harmful impact of Big Pharma’s anti-competitive practices. The campaign included digital ads, an online advocacy hub, as well as videos urging Congress to pass bipartisan bills, including S. 150 and Q1/Q2, to promote generic and biosimilar competition. Over the last nearly 18 months, key efforts by patients and advocates have included:
– Nearly 42,000 letters were sent to Congress urging action on these bipartisan patent reform bills. In the final week leading up to the CR’s passage, over 4,500 letters were sent to push for the inclusion of S.150.
– Since the launch of the campaign, advocates have made more than 31,000 calls to Congressional offices to encourage the passage of these reforms.
– Nine patient advocates have flown to Washington, D.C. to meet directly with lawmakers, sharing their struggles with high drug prices and urging them to act on these bills.
– Patients have shared their stories through interviews, press conferences, on Hill panels, and in op-eds, and in news outlets nationwide.
– P4ADNow sent multiple letters, alongside allies like AARP, CSRxP, The ERISA Industry Committee, The National MS Society, and Purchaser Business Group on Health, in support of S. 150 and other reform bills.
Additionally, in May, David Mitchell, Founder and President of P4ADNow and himself a patient with an incurable rare cancer, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. His testimony emphasized how Big Pharma’s anti-competitive practices harm patients and taxpayers, and urged Congress to act on a bipartisan package of reforms – including some provisions included today. These changes would realign incentives to spur true innovation while ensuring timely market entry for generics and biosimilars to lower prices.
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Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, is the only national, patient advocacy organization focused exclusively on policies to lower drug prices. We empower and mobilize patients and allies, hold accountable those in power, and fight to shape and achieve system-changing policies that make prescription drugs affordable for all people in the United States. P4ADNow is bipartisan and does not accept funding from organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs. To learn more visit; PatientsForAffordableDrugsNOW.org.