The Week in Review in Prescription Drug Pricing

No Follies or Funny Things (Can) Happen on the Way to the Senate: Pass BBB and Merrily We (Will) Roll Along (RIP Sondheim).
Welcome to the Week in Review.

1.  Thank You!

• On Tuesday, P4ADNow launched new ads thanking six frontline House Democrats for being champions of drug price provisions in the Build Back Better Act. The ads are running in TX-32, MN-02, NJ-03, NH-01, IL-14, and PA-07. In the months leading up to the House passage of the legislation, these representatives signed letters and penned op-edscalling for the inclusion of Medicare negotiation in the reconciliation package. The ads feature Jackie, a cancer patient whose medication, Revlimid, carries a list price of over $20,000 each month. “On behalf of patients all across this country, we thank Reps. Allred, Craig, Kim, Pappas, Underwood, and Wild for fighting to ensure the inclusion of meaningful drug price reforms in the Build Back Better Act,” said P4ADNow founder David Mitchell. — (P4ADNow)

2. New Jersey Patients Can’t Wait

• At a local event with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Pallone, patient advocate Lisa Ann Trainor shared how high drug prices have affected her family and urged her senators to pass the Build Back Better Act with its current drug pricing reforms. “New Jerseyans like me need you to fight for the thousands of us affected by the unaffordable price of our prescription drugs,” Lisa said. “So many New Jerseyans are suffering right now. We don’t have time to wait.” — (InsiderNJ)

3. Congress, We’re Counting On You

• As the Build Back Better Act and its drug pricing provisions await a Senate vote, advocacy groups, patients, editorial boards, and Americansacross the country are united in calling for its swift passage to lower drug prices for patients. The issue is urgent — a new study found that in the years prior to the pandemic, nearly 13 million patients delayed filling or went without prescription medications due to high prices. “There have been times where I could not afford to carry an EpiPen and ended up hospitalized with anaphylactic shock after being exposed to latex,” writesBrenda Dickason, a small business owner and former police detective who lives with asthma and multiple allergies. “As an Arizonan, I am calling on Sen. Sinema to reject Big Pharma’s misinformation and stand firm in her commitment to delivering the drug pricing reforms, as written, in the Build Back Better Act.” — (The Washington Post, Bloomberg, Arizona Daily Star, Star Tribune, The Record-Courier, The Plain Dealer, Urban Institute)

My name is Janet Schwartz, and I’m a retired nurse from Newark, DE. I’m 74 years old and was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 59 years old after experiencing symptoms, like nerve and joint pain, for a very long time. 

The price of my medications has tarnished what are supposed to be my golden years.

For several years, I was forced to rely on grants to afford Tecfidera, which carries a list price of over $8,200 per month. However, I haven’t had this medication for nearly a year because the drug maker now says there are no grants. It’s frustrating because I loved this medication. It drastically improved my quality of life and my symptoms. Now I’m no longer taking the medication, I’ve experienced intense hot flashes, leg spasms, double vision, brain fog, and chronic pain. I’m ready to give up. 

I also have type 2 diabetes and was forced to stop taking Trulicity because $200 a month was too much for me. I’m on another drug for the condition, but it doesn’t work as well at all. The switch also costs me time. I have to monitor my blood sugars extremely closely on this less-effective drug.

It is all so difficult to live with.

My lawmakers should know I live on Social Security — $1,600 a month. I would like to ask them how they’d feel if their mother or sister or someone in their family needed medications and couldn’t afford them? Medications should be for everybody, not just people who can afford it.

I have adult children and I don’t want them to have to pay for my drugs and worry about me. I didn’t have children because I wanted to be taken care of in my old age. I just want them to be happy. I just want to afford my prescription drugs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now today launched an ad thanking Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) for being a champion in the fight for lower drug prices and for her vote to pass the Build Back Better Act. The ad features a cancer patient named Jackie, whose cancer medication, Revlimid, is priced at over $20,000 every month. 

“Millions of people like me are struggling. It’s time for our leaders to lead,” Jackie says in the ad. 

The ad responds to Rep. Underwood’s vote in favor of the Build Back Better Act, which passed the House of Representatives on Nov. 19. Rep. Underwood has been a leader in pushing for meaningful drug price reforms to be included in the Build Back Better Act. Following the release of the White House’s Build Back Better framework, which did not include any drug price reforms, she signed a letter calling for the inclusion of reforms as an essential element in the legislation. Earlier this year, Rep. Underwood also signed onto a letter calling on President Biden to include drug pricing in the reconciliation package. 

“On behalf of patients, we thank Rep. Underwood for fighting to ensure the inclusion of meaningful drug price reforms in the Build Back Better Act,” 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. “Her steadfast support for the drug price provisions in the Build Back Better Act was a key factor in the House passage of the bill that finally allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices. Ninety percent of voters support Medicare negotiation, and the reforms in Build Back Better will help millions of Americans.” 

The ad will run as the Senate moves to take up the Build Back Better Act in December. The Build Back Better Act will, for the first time, authorize Medicare to negotiate prices directly for some of the most expensive prescription medicines, including insulin; institute a hard cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries; and limit annual price increases to stop price gouging by drug corporations. 

“Congresswoman Underwood just voted to pass the Build Back Better Act, which for the first time lets Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for people in Illinois,” the ad running on digital platforms says. “She stood up to Big Pharma attacks and did the right thing for patients. Tell Representative Underwood: Thank you for voting to lower drug prices for millions of Americans.”

Watch the ad here.

Full transcript of the ad below:

JACKIE: This is a four-week supply of my chemotherapy. It’s 20 pills, and it’s $20,000 every single month. Millions of people like me are struggling. It’s time for our leaders to lead.

VO: Congresswoman Underwood just voted to pass the Build Back Better Act, which for the first time lets Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for people in Illinois. She stood up to Big Pharma attacks and did the right thing for patients. Tell Representative Underwood: Thank you for voting to lower drug prices for millions of Americans.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now today launched an ad thanking Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) for being a champion in the fight for lower drug prices and for his vote to pass the Build Back Better Act. The ad features a cancer patient named Jackie, whose cancer medication, Revlimid, is priced at over $20,000 every month. 

“Millions of people like me are struggling. It’s time for our leaders to lead,” Jackie says in the ad. 

The ad responds to Rep. Pappas’ vote in favor of the Build Back Better Act, which passed the House of Representatives on Nov. 19. Rep. Pappas has been a leader in pushing for meaningful drug price reforms to be included in the Build Back Better Act. Following the release of the White House’s Build Back Better framework, which did not include any drug price reforms, he signed a letter calling for the inclusion of reforms as an essential element in the legislation. Earlier in the year, Rep. Pappas also signed onto a letter calling on President Biden to include drug pricing in the reconciliation package. 

“On behalf of patients, we thank Rep. Pappas for fighting to ensure the inclusion of meaningful drug price reforms in the Build Back Better Act,” 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. “His steadfast support for the drug price provisions in the Build Back Better Act was a key factor in the House passage of the bill that finally allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices. Ninety percent of voters support Medicare negotiation, and the reforms in Build Back Better will help millions of Americans.” 

The ad will run as the Senate moves to take up the Build Back Better Act in December. The Build Back Better Act will, for the first time, authorize Medicare to negotiate prices directly for some of the most expensive prescription medicines, including insulin; institute a hard cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries; and limit annual price increases to stop price gouging by drug corporations. 

“Congressman Pappas just voted to pass the Build Back Better Act, which for the first time lets Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for people in New Hampshire,” the ad running on digital platforms says. “He stood up to Big Pharma attacks and did the right thing for patients. Tell Representative Pappas: Thank you for voting to lower drug prices for millions of Americans.”

Watch the ad here.

Full transcript of the ad below:

JACKIE: This is a four-week supply of my chemotherapy. It’s 20 pills, and it’s $20,000 every single month. Millions of people like me are struggling. It’s time for our leaders to lead.

VO: Congressman Pappas just voted to pass the Build Back Better Act, which for the first time lets Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for people in New Hampshire. He stood up to Big Pharma attacks and did the right thing for patients. Tell Representative Pappas: Thank you for voting to lower drug prices for millions of Americans.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now today launched an ad thanking Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-03) for being a champion in the fight for lower drug prices and for his vote to pass the Build Back Better Act. The ad features a cancer patient named Jackie, whose cancer medication, Revlimid, is priced at over $20,000 every month. 

“Millions of people like me are struggling. It’s time for our leaders to lead,” Jackie says in the ad. 

The ad responds to Rep. Kim’s vote in favor of the Build Back Better Act, which passed the House of Representatives on Nov. 19. Despite repeatedattacksfrom Big Pharma, Rep. Kim stood strong as a leader in pushing for meaningful drug price reforms to be included in the Build Back Better Act. Following the release of the White House’s Build Back Better framework, which did notinclude any drug price reforms, he signed a letter calling for the inclusion of reforms as an essential element in the legislation. Earlier this year, Rep. Kim also penned an op-ed highlighting the importance of lowering drug prices for Americans. 

“On behalf of patients, we thank Rep. Kim for fighting to ensure the inclusion of meaningful drug price reforms in the Build Back Better Act,” 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. “His steadfast support for the drug price provisions in the Build Back Better Act was a key factor in the House passage of the bill that finally allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices. Ninety percent of voters support Medicare negotiation, and the reforms in Build Back Better will help millions of Americans.” 

The ad will run as the Senate moves to take up the Build Back Better Act in December. The Build Back Better Act will, for the first time, authorize Medicare to negotiate prices directly for some of the most expensive prescription medicines, including insulin; institute a hard cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries; and limit annual price increases to stop price gouging by drug corporations. 

“Congressman Kim just voted to pass the Build Back Better Act, which for the first time lets Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for New Jerseyans,” the adrunning on digital platforms says. “He stood up to Big Pharma attacks and did the right thing for patients. Tell Representative Kim: Thank you for voting to lower drug prices for millions of Americans.”

Watch the ad here.

Full transcript of the ad below:

JACKIE: This is a four-week supply of my chemotherapy. It’s 20 pills, and it’s $20,000 every single month. Millions of people like me are struggling. It’s time for our leaders to lead.

VO: Congressman Kim just voted to pass the Build Back Better Act, which for the first time lets Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for New Jerseyans. He stood up to Big Pharma attacks and did the right thing for patients. Tell Representative Kim: Thank you for voting to lower drug prices for millions of Americans.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now today launched new ads that will run in six frontline House districts thanking Reps. Colin Allred(TX-32), Angie Craig (MN-02), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Susan Wild (PA-07) for being champions in the fight for lower drug prices for Americans and for their votes to pass the Build Back Better Act. The ads feature a cancer patient named Jackie, whose cancer medication, Revlimid, is priced at over $20,000 every month. 

“Millions of people like me are struggling. It’s time for our leaders to lead,” Jackie says in the ads. 

The ads respond to the six representatives’ votes in favor of the Build Back Better Act, which passed the House of Representatives on Nov. 19. These members of Congress have been leaders in pushing for meaningful drug price reforms, including Medicare negotiation to lower drug prices for their constituents. Following the release of the White House’s Build Back Better framework, which did not include drug price reform, these frontline Democrats signed a letter, led by Rep. Craig, calling for the inclusion of reforms as an essential element in the Build Back Better Act. Throughout the year, these representatives also pennedop-edshighlighting the importance of lowering drug prices for Americans, and some signed onto a letter, led by Rep. Wild, calling on President Biden to include drug pricing in the Build Back Better Act. 

“On behalf of patients all across this country, we thank Reps. Allred, Craig, Kim, Pappas, Underwood, and Wild for fighting to ensure the inclusion of meaningful drug price reforms in the Build Back Better Act,” 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. “Their steadfast support for the drug price provisions in the Build Back Better Act was a key factor in House passage of the bill that finally allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices. Ninety percent of voters support Medicare negotiation, and the reforms in Build Back Better will help millions of Americans.” 

The ads will run as the Senate moves to take up the Build Back Better Act in December. The Build Back Better Act will, for the first time, authorize Medicare to negotiate prices directly for some of the most expensive prescription medicines, including insulin; institute a hard cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries; and limit annual price increases to stop price gouging by drug corporations. 

“Congresswoman Wild just voted to pass the Build Back Better Act, which for the first time lets Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for Pennsylvanians,” the ad running in Pennsylvania’s seventh district says. “She stood up to Big Pharma attacks and did the right thing for patients. Tell Representative Wild: Thank you for voting to lower drug prices for millions of Americans.”

Watch the TX-32 ad here.
Watch the MN-02 ad here.
Watch the NJ-03 ad here.
Watch the NH-01 ad here.
Watch the IL-14 ad here.
Watch the PA-07 ad here.

Last week, Patients For Affordable Drugs Now announced a campaign highlighting Senator Manchin’s support for Medicare negotiation to lower drug prices for West Virginians and calling on the senator to get the job done by voting for the Build Back Better Act. The organization is also running a campaign, including this ad, in Arizona urging Senator Sinema to support drug price provisions in the Build Back Better Act. View all ads here.