Welcome to the Week in Review.

President Trump, Negotiate A “Better Deal” For Americans

P4AD launched a new national TV ad this week, airing on Fox & Friends, urging President Trump to continue defending Medicare’s ability to negotiate lower drug prices and deliver a better deal for American patients. The 30-second spot entitled “Better Deal” highlights Trump’s own statements supporting the need for Medicare to negotiate and calls on him to stand with patients, not Big Pharma lobbyists, as the second round of negotiations is underway. The ad aired amidst ongoing legal challenges from drug companies seeking to block the program, and as Trump’s DOJ has begun defending the law in court. Watch the ad below! – (Axios, YouTube)

Uncertainty Around Trump Tariffs Raises Concerns for Patients

President Trump’s newly announced tariffs have sparked growing concerns about the potential impact on drug prices and patient access. While pharmaceuticals were temporarily exempted from the latest round of tariffs, the administration has signaled that industry-specific tariffs targeting the sector are still under consideration. If implemented, these tariffs would likely increase manufacturing costs and further drive up prescription drug prices for Americans, one in three of whom are already struggling to afford their medications. We have already heard from patients anxious about rising prices and wondering if they should rush to stock up on the medications they rely on. P4AD will continue to monitor developments closely and amplify the voices of patients whose health and financial well-being hang in the balance. — (Bloomberg, Reuters, Fierce Pharma, USA Today)

Patent Bills Pass Through Committee Once Again

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a slate of bipartisan, pro-competition bills this week aimed at curbing patent abuses and lowering prescription drug prices. These bills – S.1040, S.1041, S.1096, S.1095, and S.1097 – would address anti-competitive tactics including product hopping, patent thicketing, pay-for-delay deals, and abuses of the FDA’s citizen petition process. The legislation would also improve coordination and communication between the FDA and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) regarding each agency’s drug patent-related activities. The five bills have been championed by patients in our community since July 2023 and are projected to save taxpayers nearly $5 billion over the next decade. This latest vote marks an important step toward advancing reforms that promote competition and deliver long-overdue relief to patients and taxpayers. — (PatientsPushForCompetition.org)

Affordability Crisis Hits New High

A new Gallup-West Health report finds that nearly 29 million Americans are now “Cost Desperate” – unable to afford or access the care and medicine they need. The percentage of Americans struggling to pay for healthcare is at its highest level since 2021, with the burden falling hardest on Black, Latino, and low-income families. The research shows that the gap between those who can afford care and those who can’t is now wider than ever — and high drug prices are a key driver of this growing crisis. It’s yet another stark reminder that patients need relief now, and are demanding lawmakers act to rein in Big Pharma’s unchecked pricing power. – (Gallup)

ICYMI

This week, P4AD launched a new Spanish-language website to ensure Latino and Spanish-speaking communities, who are disproportionately harmed by high drug prices, are not only included in the fight for lower cost drugs they also have the tools to amplify their voices and take action.

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