I am Lionel Mares, from Sun Valley, CA, a patient advocate speaking in honor of my late mother. As her caregiver, I witnessed first hand the impact of high drug prices on our family.
My mother who unfortunately passed in April 2020, was a Type 2 diabetic patient who took medication to control her blood sugar and other related illnesses, while also being on dialysis. Even though she was on Medicare coverage, the cost of her copays were still very expensive nonetheless.
We struggled to afford her insulin ranging from NovoLog, Humalog, and Lantus, at times when we had to cover a higher portion of its high price, despite her Medicare coverage. My mother was very ill and suffered tremendously, something I would not wish on anyone else to feel or witness.
As her caregiver, I took on the financial responsibility to cover the costs of her medications when Medicare did not. The financial toll the high prices of these medications had severely affected me and my family’s financial situation.
I, thankfully, have not needed any significant medical attention that would succumb me to expensive medication prices while being a patient on Medi-Cal, a California Medicaid healthcare program. I realize the privilege I have as a healthy individual, but I strongly remain passionate about spreading awareness and getting involved in helping make prescription drugs affordable, as I know that would have benefitted my mother earlier and helped many other patients before and after her make surviving easier.
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Soy Lionel Mares, de Sun Valley, CA, un defensor de pacientes que habla en honor de mi madre fallecida, de quien yo era su cuidador.
Mi madre, quien lamentablemente falleció en 2020, era una paciente diabética Tipo 2 que tomaba medicamentos para controlar su azúcar en la sangre y otras enfermedades relacionadas, mientras también estaba en diálisis. A pesar de tener la cubierta de Medicare, el costo de sus copagos seguía siendo muy caro.
Siempre tuvimos dificultades para pagar su insulina de NovoLog, Humalog, o Lantus, siempre y más aun cuando se clasificaba de manera diferente en el sistema de niveles del formulario de Medicare. Mi madre estaba muy enferma y sufrió tremendamente, algo que no desearía que nadie más sintiera o presenciara.
Como su cuidador, asumí la responsabilidad financiera de cubrir las diferencias de sus medicamentos cuando Medicare no podía. La carga financiera que tenían los altos precios de estos medicamentos afectó gravemente mi situacion financiera y la de mi familia.
Yo, afortunadamente, no he tenido la necesidad de ninguna atención médica significativa que me hiciera sucumbir a los altos precios de los medicamentos mientras siendo un paciente de Medi-Cal, un programa de atención médica de Medicaid de California. Me doy cuenta del privilegio que tengo como persona sana, pero sigo apasionado por difundir la conciencia y participar en ayudar a que los medicamentos recetados sean asequibles, ya que sé que eso habría beneficiado a mi madre antes y ayudado a muchos otros pacientes antes y después de ella, a sobrevivir.
I am David Bayne, from Conway, South Carolina, and am speaking on behalf of my family who has been affected by the high cost of prescription drugs.
My wife, Bonnie, is a patient with COPD (or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) taking TRELEGY, a tier three drug on Medicare’s formulary. Because of the high price, even with our Medicare insurance coverage, we face high out-of-pocket costs. In January of 2021, Bonnie’s 90-day prescription of TRELEGY increased in price from $1,801.54 to $1,896.36, and then further increased to $1,999.24 in 2022. I have constantly shared our experience of high price drugs with my three congressional representatives and have been utterly disappointed that they have done nothing but parrot what I believe to be “Big Pharma” lines and lies.
Because of the high price of Trelegy, we have resorted to ordering Bonnie’s Trelegy prescription through a Canadian pharmacy in Vancouver, Canada, where we pay an out of pocket expense of $265 rather than the $505.26 out of pocket expense through Medicare for the same prescription. This should not be the case. Americans should be able to access their medicines within the American healthcare system.
My experience with the high price of prescription drugs, unfortunately, does not end or start with my wife Bonnie’s experience. Years ago, my wife and I had to navigate the challenges of our son becoming a paraplegic and our daughter being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) which nearly killed her. At the end of our daughter’s cancer treatment, the costs totaled $1.3 million dollars before insurance. After insurance, her expected out-of-pocket costs also put us as a family in a state of financial difficulty.
There is another federal prescription drug purchasing program. The Office of Purchasing, Logistics and Acquisition.(OPAL.) This program is used by the Department of Defence, VA, Indian Affairs and Coast Guard. I know negotiation with drug companies is an effective way to majorly lower drug prices. That is because the VA negotiates directly with drug companies and successfully obtains steep discounts.
The cost difference to the U.S. taxpayers and patients, prior to price negotiation, are in the hundreds of million dollars a year. These experiences are what have led me to my personal fight in lowering prescription drug prices and contacting my elected officials until legislation is passed.
Happy 58th Birthday, Medicare! Only 7 more years until you’re eligible for yourself 🥳
Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. The Inflation Reduction Act: Building on Medicare’s Reach To Patients
Medicare celebrated its 58th anniversary this week and patients are applauding the drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act as it builds on the legacy of the monumental program. When marking the anniversary, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Jaime Harrison cited the program’s history as a “critical lifeline” and emphasized how the new drug price law builds on this legacy by “allow[ing] Medicare to negotiate drug prices, cap seniors’ insulin costs at $35 a month, and create a $2,000 yearly cap on seniors’ out-of-pocket drug costs;” Senator Mark Kelly touted the reforms as a huge step towards reining in Big Pharma’s pricing power; and State Director of AARP Oregon, Bandana Shrestha stated that the reforms’ impact on the 66 million people on Medicare will be “immense.” Jean Busby of North Carolina knows the danger of being unable to afford insulin all too well. She’s had to make several emergency room trips due to “dangerously low blood sugar levels” — but now with the $35 monthly insulin copay cap, she won’t have to ration her insulin which will help her better manage her condition. Steve Knievel of Public Citizen emphasized why Medicare negotiation was so long overdue: “It’s obscene. These drug corporations have made — across the board for the first set of drugs that are going to be negotiated — they’ve made tens of billions of dollars already.” It’s true! Blockbuster drugs like Keytruda grew 19 percent in sales as its manufacturer Merck filed a bogus lawsuit to try to block Medicare negotiation. Patients aren’t fooled — we’ll continue to honor Medicare’s anniversary by ensuring taxpayers and patients get a better deal through negotiation. — (DNC, Arizona Republic, Kiowa County Press, NC Newsline, The Hill, Precision Medicine Online)
2. Buildup To September’s Congressional Session
Congress is in recess until September and the pressure is on to advance bipartisan drug price reforms once members return. Before Congress adjourned, the Senate Finance Committee advanced legislation addressing the opaque practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and Chairman Ron Wyden and Ranking Member Mike Crapo previewed that more PBM legislation will be up for votes in the coming months. These PBM reforms are expected to be combined with bipartisan legislative packages that have passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and Senate Commerce committees, Politico reported. Similarly in the House, members across committees are gearing up legislation on drug price transparency and PBM practices to be voted on this September. Reforms addressing competition, PBMs, and transparency could be combined with “must pass” health measures in a bipartisan package when Congress returns in September. Congress: keep up the good work! — (Politico, Axios)
3. Patent Abuse: “Profits At Any Price”
More evidence this week that drug companies game the patent system to extend market exclusivity on drugs and rake in obscene profits. A new study published in JAMA found that the manufacturers of a new class of obesity and diabetes drugs have filed for an average of nearly 20 patents perproduct, securing a median of 18.3 years of market exclusivity after FDA approval for these blockbuster products. “More than half of all patents were obtained on the delivery devices rather than active ingredients,” wrote the authors of the study. This latest example of patent abuse highlights the urgent need for reforms to our patent and regulatory systems. Without reforms that address this issue, drugs will continue to be priced out of reach for patients — like the blockbuster drug Humira. AbbVie blocked any competition to Humira via patent thickets for nearly 20 years and forced patients to pay high, unjustified prices. Dr. Patrick Neustatter wrote in an op-ed, “It is, of course, the job of any company to make money, but today’s mantra seems to be “profits at any price.”” Drug corporations will do anything to maximize their profit margins, even at the expense of patients. We urgently need to fix our rigged patent system to ensure that generic competition can come to market to drive down drug prices! — (Axios, The Free Lance-Star)
BONUS: P4AD submitted comments to the NIH ahead of its workshop Monday, calling on the agency to address the issue of fair pricing for all NIH and taxpayer-funded drugs and make the workshop patient-centered. Worth a read!
Busy week on the hill before recess! In a near-unanimous vote, the Senate Finance Committee advanced bipartisan reforms to increase transparency and accountability of Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) practices. “The move adds to the flurry of activity in both chambers on PBMs, highlighting the interest in both parties in getting changes across the finish line,” Axios reported. In the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Senator Peter Welchshed light on Big Pharma’s abuse of the patent system. “When you have a patent system that can be abused by the patent holders, and they can go beyond the period of exclusivity, it’s brutal on the cost of health care for American employers, to taxpayers, and to private payers,” Welch explained. He used the example of Humira, which has brought AbbVie billions of dollars in profit during its reign as the world’s best-selling drug by obtaining 165 patents on the drug — barring any competition from coming to market. AbbVie’s Humira also illustrates how both patent abuses and PBMs play a role in preventing competition. When competitors finally come to market, PBMs often stand in the way of patients obtaining the more affordable options. PBMs “direct the prescription flow of patients,” Clear Health Costs summarized. “[PBM]s channel patients into higher-priced drugs and away from less expensive drugs. That’s how they get paid more.” Senators, let’s reform our rigged patent system and PBM practices – patients are waiting! — (Axios, WCAX, Clear Health Costs)
2. Debunking Pharma Doublespeak
Big Pharma will stop at nothing to preserve its bottom line and exploitative pricing power. New lawsuits from drug companies are “throwing the kitchen sink” in a desperate attempt to stop Medicare from negotiating lower prices for patients, terrified their profits will suffer under the new law. But pharma earning reports tell a different story. The five largest drug companies reported combined earnings of $81.9 billion in 2022, an increase of $8 billion from 2021, according to new analysis by Accountable.US. Given these billions of dollars in profit made last year, drug company’s claims about damage to their research and development (R&D) expenses sure seem pretty unconvincing. “The drug companies are putting their profits ahead of the affordability of drugs for millions of Americans on Medicare,” wrote Al Norman of Massachusetts. Thankfully, the Medicare negotiation program will rein in high drug pricesand increase access to innovative medicines by considering factors like a drug’s clinical benefit. “The Inflation Reduction Act might incentivize companies to focus more heavily on breakthrough therapies, instead of so-called me-too drugs,” Harvard Professor Ameet Sarpatwari told The New York Times. Big Pharma’s bogus lawsuits and lies about the new law don’t stand a chance – Medicare negotiation will bring relief to patients who have faced unjustified price hikes year after year. — (The New York Times, The Lancet, The Hill, The Fifty Plus Life, Common Dreams)
3. The Inflation Reduction Act: More Savings For Patients
Patients are already feeling relief from the Inflation Reduction Act and will continue to see savings from the soon-to-be implemented provisions. On the Senate floor, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated some of the historic reforms passed last year: “Because of the IRA, vaccines are free for Medicare beneficiaries, and a cap on out-of-pocket drug spending – no senior will pay more than $2,000 a year for drugs – is coming very soon.” A new study published in JAMA found that people on Medicare have filled more insulin prescriptions since the historic drug price law was passed in 2022. The study noted that the $35 monthly insulin copay cap “meaningfully reduced” the number of people on Medicare who were rationing insulin due to cost. For patients like Lawrence, who paid more than $100 per bottle of insulin before 2023, the insulin copay cap brings significant savings. Medicare negotiation is also expected to lower drug prices for patients and reduce the federal deficit by billions of dollars. The negotiation process is “turning the tables on drugmakers,” who set unjustly high drug prices, Leslie Walker discussed on the Tradeoffs podcast. At a town hall, Senator Elizabeth Warren explainedMedicare negotiation, which starts with just ten negotiated drugs for the first round, as the “crack in the wall” of Big Pharma monopoly power. This is just the beginning – we won’t stop until no walls exist between patients and their medications. — (Senate Democrats, Spectrum News 1, Augusta Free Press, Tradeoffs, The Berkshire Eagle)
1. Medicare Negotiation: Popular Provisions That Will Bring Relief
In the latest attack on the Medicare negotiation law, this week Johnson & Johnson (J&J) joined the list of drug companies and trade groups filing bogus lawsuits. Clearly, J&J is scrambling to protect its bottom line, since its blockbuster blood thinner Xarelto may be selected for the first round of negotiation. But patients aren’t fooled! A poll released this week by Navigator Research reported that voters overwhelmingly support the drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act, with 81 percent supporting the provision giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices. The Center For American Progress (CAP) released a new analysis that highlights how Medicare negotiation will specifically help women, Black and Latino people, LGBTQI+ people, and disabled people. The report explains that Black and Latino people on Medicare are nearly two times more likely not to fill a prescription due to cost, and the Inflation Reduction Act will provide tangible relief. Patients aren’t the only ones benefiting from the Medicare negotiation program. At a press conference organized by Protect Our Care and Opportunity Wisconsin, Rep. Gwen Moore explained: “Not only does the Inflation Reduction Act provide affordable medications to people, but it actually reduces the deficit by billions, hundreds of billions of dollars.” With billions of dollars of savings at play, no wonder drug companies are pleading with the courts to preserve their bottom line. — (Navigator Research, Center For American Progress, Up North News)
2. Momentum Builds On PBM Reforms
As Senate Majority Leader Schumer works on a health package to lower drug prices, momentum continues to build for Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform. The Senate Finance Committee announced a markup of PBM legislation next week on July 26. Senators Tom Carper and Chuck Grassley introduced new legislation, the PBM Oversight Act of 2023, that would empower the federal government to increase oversight over PBMs’ practices. In the House, the Education and Workforce Committee passed a bipartisan package last week that included reforms to increase PBM transparency. Clearly, reforming PBMs is a priority in both chambers and across the aisle! The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a unanimous vote this week walkingback its previous stance against PBM transparency. The writing is on the wall: PBMs can no longer hide behind trade secrets and proprietary data. It’s high time to shed light on the middlemen’s practices and it’s evident that bipartisan support for reforms has never been stronger. — (Axios, The Hill, Bloomberg Law)
3. Continuing The Push For Competition
Following lastweek’slaunch of the “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices,” P4ADNow is continuing to spread the word about the ways that Big Pharma abuses the system and why we urgently need the Senate to pass reforms. Through a social media campaign, P4ADNow is breaking down how drug corporations exploit the patent and regulatory systems with tactics like pay-for-delay deals, product hopping, and patent thickets to maintain their monopolies. Humira, the poster child for patent abuse, finally has competition after years of market exclusivity due to a combination of anti-competitive tactics. Humira’s competitors have the potential to drive lower drug prices to the market and provide relief to patients who’ve faced unjustified, high drug prices. “The introduction of seven alternatives to AbbVie Inc.‘s blockbuster drug Humira in July will be the most important test to date on whether market competition can bring down what patients pay for expensive biologics,”reported Bloomberg Law. While we wait to see how Humira biosimilars play out, we urgently call on the Senate to pass reforms that foster competition and crack down on abuse of the patent and regulatory systems to ensure they are serving patients first, instead of padding the pockets of Big Pharma. — (P4ADNow, NPR, Bloomberg Law)
BONUS: It’s been almost a year since the Inflation Reduction Act passed and despite Big Pharma fear mongering, drug companies seem to be doing just fine! This week, Novartis announced a $15 billion share buyback and J&J published its quarterly earnings, which increased 6.3% for a total of $25.5 billion in sales. What was that about not enough money for R&D? 👀
Have a great weekend!
Special Edition! All About The:
Welcome to the Week in Review.
ICYMI, Senate Majority Leader Schumer sent a Dear Colleague letter indicating his intention to advance bipartisan bills to lower drug costs during the July work period. Then on Thursday, we launched the “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices,” calling on the Senate to immediately pass bipartisan drug price competition reforms. Here’s a recap:
Press Conference On The Hill 🎤
Senator Klobuchar, patients, AARP, Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow), and SPACEs in Action launched the “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices” with a pressconference on Capitol Hill. The event focused on the burden of high drug prices on patients and the need to pass legislation that cracks down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices. “Sky-high prices have kept prescription medications out of reach for far too many Americans. By passing legislation to address the anti-competitive tactics that big pharma uses to keep drug prices high, we will enable more competition and innovation in the pharmaceutical market and lower costs for patients,” said Senator Klobuchar, who has been a champion in the fight to lower drug prices. Jacqueline Garibay, 22-year-old student who lives with ankylosing spondylitis from Austin, Texas shared how Amgen has used shady actions to keep biologic drugs at high prices: “Big Pharma is abusing the system and taking advantage of patients by preventing competition for life-saving drugs to protect its bottom line – people like me have no choice but to pay whatever price the companies set,” she continued. “It’s time to put patients’ lives ahead of drug industry profits.”
Letter To The Senate From 35 Orgs 📝
The morning of the press conference, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions, and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate calling for passage of bipartisan bills that lower drug prices through increased competition. The letter, lead by P4ADNow and AARP, urges the Senate to pass reforms that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices, such as “pay-for-delay” deals and product hopping, and close regulatory loopholes, like the abuse of the citizen petition process, to promote generic and biosimilar competition to lower drug prices for patients. The Senate has a real opportunity to advance reforms to “promote competition, accountability, and transparency that will lower drug prices for patients, payers, and taxpayers.” It’s time to get it done.
Advocacy Campaign Launched 🚀
As part of the kickoff, P4ADNow launched new digital ads and an advocacy hub all about promoting competition to lower drug prices. The advocacy hub includes a breakdown of the legislation, first hand stories of how Big Pharma’s abuses hurts patients, and tools to help advocates write letters urging their Senators to pass a package that includes bipartisan bills that promote generic and biosimilar competition to lower drug prices. Check out an example of a new digital ad running below:
BONUS: Speaking of Big Pharma patent abuse, did you see that John Green called out Johnson & Johnson for seeking secondary patents on tuberculosis drug bedaquiline to maintain its monopoly on the drug? This shady move denies millions of people access to the drug. Worth a watch (plus follow the conversation on #patientsoverpatents, which has been trending on Twitter)!
Have a great weekend!
Senators, Patients, AARP, P4ADNow, and SPACEs in Action Launch Push At Press Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Klobuchar, patients, AARP, Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow), and SPACEs in Action launched the “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices” with a press conference on Capitol Hill today. To kick off the push, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate calling for immediate passage of bipartisan bills that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices and close regulatory loopholes to promote generic and biosimilar competition to lower drug prices for patients.
“Right now, drug companies abuse our system through anti-competitive practices that extend monopolies beyond the time intended under law, leaving patients in this country paying more than three times what other wealthy nations pay for the exact same brand name drugs,” said David Mitchell, a patient with incurable blood cancer whose drugs carry a list price of more than $900,000 per year and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “The Senate has the chance to pass a package of bipartisan bills that will reform and improve our patent and regulatory systems to encourage earlier market entry of more affordable generics and biosimilars. These are common sense, bipartisan solutions that will deliver real relief to patients through lower drug prices. We urge the Senate to act now.”
As part of the kickoff, today P4ADNow also launched new digital ads and an advocacy hub for people to urge their Senators to pass a package that includes bipartisan bills that promote generic and biosimilar competition to lower drug prices.
This press conference took place following Majority Leader Schumer’s Dear Colleague letter indicating his intention to advance bipartisan bills to lower drug costs during the July work period. The package includes reforms voted out of the Senate HELP, Judiciary, and Commerce Committees on a strong bipartisan basis earlier this year.
The following are quotes from the speakers at today’s press conference:
“Sky-high prices have kept prescription medications out of reach for far too many Americans. By passing legislation to address the anti-competitive tactics that big pharma uses to keep drug prices high, we will enable more competition and innovation in the pharmaceutical market and lower costs for patients,” said Senator Klobuchar. “I’ll keep working to ensure all Americans can get the life-saving medications they need at prices they can afford.”
“Americans can’t afford to pay more than 3 times what people in other countries pay for the same medicine,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer. “Generic drugs have proven to be one of the safest and most effective ways to ensure that millions of older Americans can afford the prescription drugs they need. Now is the time for Congress to increase competition and help lower drug prices.”
“Lowering drug prices will increase the quality of life for many people like me across this country. We are urgently calling on the Senate to immediately advance and pass the bipartisan bills to lower drug prices.” – Arthur Blair, Board Member, SPACES in Action
“Big Pharma is abusing the system and taking advantage of patients by preventing competition for life-saving drugs to protect its bottom line – people like me have no choice but to pay whatever price the companies set…It’s time to put patients’ lives ahead of drug industry profits.” – Jacqueline Garibay, 22-year-old ankylosing spondylitis patient from Austin, TX
A recording of the event can be viewed here, and photos are available upon request.
1. Celebrating Reforms: The Out-Of-Pocket Cap And Insulin Copay Cap
More good news on how the drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act are helping and will continue to help patients. Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released data showing that nearly 19 million people on Medicare Part D will save, on average, $400 per year when the $2,000 out-of-pocket spending cap takes effect in 2025. At a roundtable earlier this week, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra celebrated the historic drug price legislation and vowed to continue to advocate for strong implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act because “no American should ever have to choose between paying rent or for prescriptions.” Indiana State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. highlighted the benefit of the monthly insulin copay cap in a town hall, stating that “some 81,000 Hoosiers who get their insulin through Medicare will see lower costs due to the act’s $35 monthly cap on the drug.” Congressman Dan Kildee celebrated the recent expansion of the monthly insulin copay cap for people on Medicare Part B that went into effect this month, saying that “No senior should have to pay hundreds of dollars for medicine that costs big pharmaceutical companies just a few dollars to make.” We’re delighted that the drug price reforms deliver long-awaited relief to patients, and glad government officials are spreading the word. — (HHS, Spectrum News 12, Chicago Tribune, WNEM)
2. More Evidence For Increasing Competition
Momentum is growing to stop drug corporations from abusing patent and regulatory processes to prolong their monopolies on prescription drugs. In an op-ed, Senator Bill Cassidy described how drug corporations take advantage of loopholes and “game the regulatory system to delay competition and preserve their ability to charge higher prices.” His piece pointed to reforms that address tactics to delay competition, such as “ending the abuse of the citizen petition process.” In a recent interview, the Initiative for Medicines, Access, And Knowledge (I-MAK) called out AbbVie for the drug company’s extensive patent thickets for its blockbuster drug Humira as a prime example of abuse of the patent system to protect unfettered pricing power. After years of market exclusivity fueled by patent thickets, Humira finally has competition, with seven biosimilars coming to market at lower prices in the last week. Competition that can lower drug prices is an essential step to restoring fairness to the system. Congress, over to you to pass reforms that close loopholes in our regulatory system so generics and biosimilars can come to market sooner. — (STAT, Life Science Leader, Managed Healthcare Executive, Axios)
3. Arriving At A Fair Price For New Treatments
New innovative therapies and treatments are arriving to market — the question of how to price them fairly remains. A new study published this week in The BMJ found that less than half of new approved drugs in the U.S. and Europe offer improved clinical value over existing treatments. Authors of the study noted that when new treatments don’t offer added therapeutic value, that information should be “reflected in the price of the drugs.” Spot on! We need a comparative value analysis tool in the United States to arrive at fair prices for prescription drugs — otherwise, patients may be paying more for drugs that offer less clinical benefit. In the case of groundbreaking gene therapies coming to market, patients and taxpayers are facing exorbitantly high prices despite massive public funding in research and development (R&D). Fyodor Urnov, a genetics professor at UC Berkeley, told The Washington Post that his team regularly receives emails from parents of patients with rare genetic disease who “desperately need treatment but can’t afford it.” He continued to comment that “We haven’t really built a system that spreads the public health joy equitably.” Drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them. — (The BMJ, Endpoints, The Washington Post)
