The Week in Review in Prescription Drug Pricing: Amgen’s New DTC Program, Another Pharma Court Loss, Colorado News, P4AD at IRA Conference, and more

Welcome to the Week in Review.

Amgen Follows Pfizer — What That Means For Patients

Nearly two weeks after President Trump’s TrumpRx announcement, Amgen unveiled its own direct-to-consumer (DTC) program, announcing a discounted price for its cholesterol drug, Repatha, at $239 per month, which the company says is “nearly 60% lower than the current U.S. list price.” This is the latest move as drug manufacturers race to align with the administration’s pressure campaign. But while framed as progress, these piecemeal discounts underscore the limits of voluntary action: $239 a month remains impossible for many patients, and Repatha is only one of the dozens of drugs Amgen sells at high prices. Real affordability will require systemic reforms – not temporary, corporate-driven programs that leave patients dependent on goodwill. — [White House, Amgen, STAT News, POLITICO, Endpoints News, Reuters]

Big Pharma’s Legal Campaign Continues

Pharma’s courtroom losing streak continued this week, marking the industry’s 15th defeat. On Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals For The Third Circuit unanimously rejected Novo Nordisk’s challenge to the Medicare Negotiation Program, dismissing claims that the law violates the First and Fifth amendments. The next day, the Fifth Circuit heard oral arguments in PhRMA’s lawsuit, where the government’s lawyer faced sharp questioning from one judge who appeared sympathetic to PhRMA’s position. The panel’s other two judges were more measured, one even noting the absence of any amicus briefs supporting PhRMA, compared to several backing the government. The court may wait for related filings in the upcoming Supreme Court case before ruling, but the trend remains clear: Pharma continues to challenge Medicare’s authority to negotiate, and patients’ advocates continue to defend it. — [P4AD, U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. Court of Appeals]

Colorado Becomes First State to Cap the Price of a Prescription Drug

Colorado patients and advocates scored a major victory this week as the state’s Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board (PDAB) set the nation’s first price cap on a prescription drug, limiting the cost of Enbrel to $600 per weekly dose. This milestone was years in the making — and it happened because patients spoke up. P4AD patient advocates in Colorado supported the effort, sending letters and sharing their stories to illustrate the need for reform. Enbrel, approved more than 25 years ago, has seen its price rise by more than 1,500% and is protected by at least 57 separate patents that block generic competition. As expected, manufacturer Amgen and the broader industry are threatening lawsuits and reviving familiar claims about “innovation.” But with $3.2 billion in annual sales, Amgen has long recouped its investment — this fight is about protecting profits, not progress. — [Denver 7, Washington Post, Colorado Sun]

P4AD Defends Patients’ Voices at GW Law’s IRA Conference

Executive Director Merith Basey joined GW Law’s Inflation Reduction Act conference for a panel focused on the law’s most pressing questions, threats, and challenges around drug pricing. In a room dominated by industry representatives and economists, Merith made sure patients’ voices were heard – pushing back when affordability was dismissed and reminding the audience that these policies aren’t theoretical, but affect real people. While much of the discussion rehashed the same tired industry arguments about innovation and investment, Merith cut through the noise – emphasizing that it’s about balance and patients need both. As she noted, our founder, David Mitchell’s story (who lives with a rare blood cancer) shows that innovation is essential, but it means nothing if patients can’t afford it. — [GWU]

In Case You Missed It

Senators Grassley (R-IA) and Hassan (D-NH) reintroduced the bipartisan Open Payments Expansion Act, which would reveal the financial ties between drug companies and the tax-exempt patient advocacy groups they fund. As P4AD’s Hidden Hand reports have shown, these front groups often claim to represent patients while defending drug industry interests. The bill would bring long-overdue transparency to those relationships — ensuring lawmakers and the public can see who’s really behind campaigns that seek to undermine drug pricing reform.  — [Sen. Grassley, P4AD]

Patient Advocate Spotlight: Janet Kerrigan
Background: Retired critical care nurse living in Myrtle Beach, SC

Condition: Multiple Myeloma, an incurable blood cancer

Drug: Revlimid ($800 per daily capsule, or $24,000 in monthly copays)

In her words: “I relied on grants to help cover these astronomical expenses, and the uncertainty of their availability meant living in a constant state of worry, wondering if the drugs that were keeping me alive would be covered… No one should have to face bankruptcy or fear losing access to life-saving medications.”

This week, Janet spoke with the New York Post about her struggles with high drug prices and President Trump’s recent DTC announcements. You can read the full article here.

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Welcome to the Week in Review.

TrumpRx Announced

Even in a crowded week of news, prescription drug pricing remained prominent with President Trump’s announcement of TrumpRx — a new government direct-to-consumer platform — alongside a deal with Pfizer to offer Medicaid prescriptions at most-favored-nation (MFN) prices. The rollout underscores that drug pricing is a top administration priority, but key questions remain about the program: Which drugs will be covered? Will patients see any savings? And who ultimately benefits? The program does cut out middlemen, but also allows pharma to continue setting prices at will. Pfizer’s prominent role in the announcement signals that drugmakers expect to come out ahead. The reality is clear: drug companies — not PBMs or pharmacies — dictate launch prices, and that’s the root cause of unaffordable medicines. While DTC programs may offer limited relief to some patients, only structural reforms like Medicare negotiation can rein in monopoly pricing power and deliver lasting affordability. P4AD patient advocate Sarah Wisniewski underscored that point on BBC World Business Report and with CBS, sharing her own struggles with high drug costs and what these announcements could mean for patients like her. — [White House, BBC, CBS, POLITCO, Inside Health Policy, The Hill, Bloomberg, STAT News, Axios, Pink Sheet, Endpoints News, Fierce Pharma, Washington Examiner, Barron’s] 

ORPHAN Re-score Anticipated Soon

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is still working on a re-score of the ORPHAN Cures Act, but we’re expecting a number well beyond the original $5 billion estimate, which failed to include a range of blockbuster drugs, including Keytruda. Championed by the pharmaceutical industry, ORPHAN exempts many high-cost drugs from negotiation, keeping prices artificially higher even longer. Lawmakers should learn from this mistake and reject pharma’s next push for carveouts through bills like EPIC and MINI. — [KFF, Congress, Congress]

New Profile on P4AD Patient Advocates

The Epoch Times published a profile of three P4AD patient advocates — Sarah, Beth, and Sanie — who traveled from across the country to D.C to share their firsthand experiences with the crushing cost of prescription drugs. During their meetings with lawmakers they pressed Congress to rein in patent abuse and protect Medicare negotiation. Their stories are powerful: spending thousands each month on treatments, rationing doses of life-saving medication, and navigating endless hurdles just to maintain coverage. Sadly, these experiences are all too common in our broken drug pricing system. With one in three Americans struggling to afford their prescription drugs, and nine in ten demanding action on the issue, the message to Congress couldn’t be clearer: it’s time to act. You can read the full profile here. — [Epoch Times]

In Case You Missed It

P4AD Executive Director Merith Basey will be joining GW Law’s Inflation Reduction Act event next Friday for a panel on the bill’s most urgent questions, threats, and challenges around drug pricing.

Patient Advocate Spotlight: Sarah Wisniewsi

Condition: Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Drug: Kesimpta, and a range of immunotherapy drugs

In her words: ““No one can afford to pay for this drug when the monthly out of pocket cost is $8,736!”

“Even though my disease remains active, I am still able to work at a good job and remain a productive, tax paying member of society, but that will not be the case if I have to shoulder the cost of the Kesimpta on top of everything else. I don’t want to have to go on disability just so I can survive and hopefully get my medication paid for.”

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Welcome to the Week in Review.

P4AD Files 5th Amicus Brief as Pharma Petitions SCOTUS

On Wednesday, P4AD filed its fifth patient-centered amicus brief defending the Medicare Negotiation Program, this time against PhRMA’s appeal to the Fifth Circuit. A Texas district court denied the group’s claims in August, adding to the industry’s 14 defeats. On the same day, AstraZeneca petitioned the Supreme Court to hear its appeal after losing its own case in 2024, seeking to block the price reduction of its diabetes drug, Farxiga, when lower negotiated prices take effect on January 1. While this marks a new escalation, it’s one we’ve long expected and prepared for. P4AD will continue elevating the voices of patients and highlighting the real-world benefits of negotiation, including the $99 billion in taxpayer savings and 656,967 lives projected to be saved over the next seven years. Medicare negotiation is here to stay. — [P4AD, P4AD, SCOTUS, CNN, The Hill, CBO, CIDSA]

Pharma Hikes Abroad ≠ Lower U.S. Prices

With the September 29 deadline approaching for drug manufacturers to respond to President Trump’s demands to reduce U.S. drug prices, BMS is following in Eli Lilly’s footsteps and raising prices in the U.K., claiming the move will somehow “improve affordability in the U.S.” But basic math shows that shifting costs overseas won’t bring down drug prices for Americans, even if some discounts are provided to lessen the inflated sticker price. Pharma has proven time and again that they can’t self-regulate, creating a dangerous crisis for patients who rely on their life-saving drugs but can’t afford them. It’s time for tangible and effective enforcement measures if drugmakers fail to meet the approaching deadline. — [White House, CNN, Pink Sheet, Axios, Inside Health Policy]

100% Pharmaceutical Tariffs Coming Next Month

In a Truth Social post on Thursday, President Trump announced tariffs of up to 100% on “any branded or patented Pharmaceutical Product” starting October 1 — unless the company is already building facilities in the U.S. Reshoring can’t happen overnight, and in the meantime, drugmakers will pass higher import costs directly onto patients. Today, only 10% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in U.S medicines are produced domestically. Doubling the cost of importing the remaining 90% would mean higher prices for patients already struggling to afford their prescriptions. — [CNBC, POLITICO, Bloomberg] 

New KFF Analysis Slams the ORPHAN Cures Act

New analysis from KFF this week confirms what patients already know: the ORPHAN Cures Act will keep prices artificially increased for people on Medicare for longer, leading to higher out-of-pocket costs at a time when 29 million Americans are already “cost-desperate” when it comes to paying for their medications. The paper also reinforces earlier reporting that the CBO’s $5 billion score vastly underestimates the bill’s true cost for taxpayers, which will skyrocket once blockbuster drugs like Keytruda are factored in. By exempting these medicines from negotiation, ORPHAN hands pharma a massive windfall while weakening one of the most popular cost-cutting programs in the country. Lawmakers should take this as a warning and reject future carveouts like the EPIC and MINI Acts that would further undermine Medicare negotiation. — [KFF, Gallup, WSJ, Congress, Congress]

In Case You Missed It

Administration officials are floating the possibility of a government-run online pharmacy, dubbed TrumpRX. While an HHS characterized the idea as “internal deliberations” and “pure speculation,” it comes in the context of President Trump’s ongoing MFN pricing push and discussions with large U.S. drugmakers. — [Inside Health Policy, Bloomberg, Independent]

Patient Advocate Spotlight: Sa’Ra Skipper

Condition: Type 1 Diabetes
Drug: Insulin
Background: Student from Indiana. Sa’Ra joined former President Biden in 2021 and shared remarks on the high cost of prescription drugs. 

In her words: “As a diabetic, you have to fight so hard physically and mentally just to survive. There shouldn’t be a price tag on my life, and I shouldn’t have to decide if I’m going to pay for living expenses or pay for insulin.”

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Welcome to the Week in Review.

14th Court Victory

In a unanimous decision, the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals rejected Novartis’ challenge and stood with Medicare negotiation, exactly one week after the same court delivered a similar defeat to Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Janssen. The judges — appointees from Presidents Trump, Biden, and Bush — once again upheld the constitutionality of Medicare negotiation, and went one step further to rule that Novartis didn’t have legal grounds to sue. One major component of this case was the amicus brief P4AD submitted on behalf of patients, elevating the testimony of three patient advocates. Despite the back-to-back defeats of their tired legal arguments, the industry continues to funnel lawyers and millions in an attempt to roll back Medicare negotiation, and P4AD will be fighting them every step of the way. — [U.S. Courts, HHS, P4AD, Inside Health Policy, Fierce Pharma, Endpoints News, Bloomberg Law, FirstWord Pharma, Pharma Letter, Law360]

Most Favored Nation letters Deadline Approaches

In late July, President Trump sent letters to 17 large pharmaceutical corporations demanding they take steps to bring drug costs in line with comparable countries as part of his Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing plan. The September 29th deadline is fast approaching, and in the weeks since, pharma has continued to show their disdain for MFN. Pfizer’s Albert Bourla claimed the letter “asks a lot,” referring to the requirements as a mere starting point for negotiations, and Eli Lilly responded with plans to significantly raise drug prices in Europe without making any commitment to reducing prices in the U.S. Despite this, new reporting this week shows that interest in MFN and other price reforms continues to grow across the aisle on Capitol Hill. P4AD patient advocates raised MFN with their representatives during our fly-in day last week, and our community continues to push for concrete action that will lead to lower prices for American patients. — [White House, President Trump, Axios, CNN, STAT News]

In Case You Missed It

In a New York Times op-ed, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary condemned what he calls “a nonstop bombardment of ads.” Direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug ads are a practice largely unique to the U.S., and are immensely profitable for drugmakers — estimates have found that each 1.5% increase in DTC ad spending is associated with a 10% increase in sales. Commissioner Makary is exactly right when he writes that “the billions of dollars drug companies spend on advertising would be better spent on lowering drug prices for American consumers.” — [New York Times, TIME]

Patient Advocate Spotlight: Ginny Boynton

Condition: Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS)
Drug: Ruzurgi ($250,000)
Background: Pennsylvania resident and retired lawyer

In her words:
“I’m lucky to have insurance coverage through my husband’s work that helps me afford my medications, but I worry about the strain these prices put on other LEMS patients and the system as a whole. I don’t know how a patient without insurance coverage could afford the astronomical price tag for these drugs.” 

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P4AD Patient Advocates on Capitol Hill

P4AD patient advocates from 10 states across the country travelled to D.C. this week to meet with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. They shared their firsthand experiences with the crushing cost of prescription drugs and pressed Congress to advance reforms that rein in patent abuse and protect Medicare negotiation from industry-backed rollbacks like the EPIC and MINI Acts. With the pharmaceutical industry deploying three lobbyists per member of Congress, patient voices are essential to cut through pharma spin and remind lawmakers what’s really at stake. Patient advocates are the core of P4AD’s mission and advocacy, and the advocates involved had productive conversations and saw a clear appetite for lowering drug prices. As nine in ten Americans want Congress to take further action and millions are struggling to afford the medications they need, lawmakers have the public on their side and must deliver for patients. 

Trump Admin Cracks Down on Misleading DTC Ads

The Trump Administration cracked down on the pharmaceutical industry this week, issuing a new executive action targeting misleading advertisements and requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to replace the abbreviated disclosures they’ve used for decades with full safety warnings instead. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising is a major way that the industry pads its profits in the U.S. But, it’s a rare practice abroad, legal only in New Zealand. Every $1 spent on DTC advertising is estimated to result in $2.20 to $4.20 in increased sales, and even a minor 1.5% increase in DTC spending can result in a 10% increase in drug sales. P4ADNow endorsed two bipartisan bills for this very reason. The No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act would eliminate a tax break that makes it cheap and easy for Big Pharma to flood the airwaves with ads, and the Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act would require companies to include the prices of their drugs in DTC ads. It’s promising to see momentum in Washington from Congress and the Administration to rein in DTC advertising. — [White House, Inside Health Policy, JHEOR, NIH, TIME, Sen. Hawley, Sen. Durbin, Wall Street Journal, POLITICO]

Pharma Campaigns for Even More Carveouts

New reporting suggests that the $5 billion ORPHAN Cures Act — which is currently being re-scored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and will cost significantly more than originally expected — could make lawmakers hesitant about further carveouts for the industry. That certainly hasn’t stopped pharma  from trying. This week, the Alliance for Aging Research (AFAR), a pharma-funded front group that P4AD exposed in a previous report, is leading a letter to Congressional leadership urging support of the EPIC Act, which would further weaken Medicare negotiation. AFAR receives the majority of its funding from industry-tied donors and is now working to manufacture support from pharma aligned patient groups. Pharma’s desperation to mobilize their front groups and push through another handout — mere weeks after their last one — is simply nothing new for an industry that won’t stop until they’ve squeezed American patients and taxpayers for every possible penny. — [Pink Sheet, WSJ, P4AD, STAT News, Open Secrets] 

Patient Advocate Spotlight: Beth Kitchin

Condition: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD)
Drug: Jakafi ($17,500 / month)
Background: Alabama resident and former healthcare professional. Beth attended our lobby day and met with her Senators’ and Representatives’ offices this week. 

In her words:
“If your drug company doesn’t pick your medication up, what do you do? I had to do all this work on filling out forms, working with the social worker at our cancer center, and at one point, I paid $1,000 for 12 pills just to get me over this little gap until I could get on this other program.” 

“I found Patients For Affordable Drugs because I needed an outlet, and somebody that I could tell my story to. Patient stories are very powerful. They can really help people, not just other patients, but they also can help get messages across to the public and to our politicians.”

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Another Patient Victory: Federal Court Rejects BMS and Janssen’s Case Against Medicare Negotiation

Pharma Continues to Shatter Lobbying Records

In 2024, the pharmaceutical industry spent a record $388 million on lobbying. This year, they’re on track to shatter that record again — already pouring $227 million into federal lobbying in just the first half of 2025, and the spending isn’t slowing down. Just two weeks ago, four major drug manufacturers joined together to launch a brand new lobbying group aimed squarely at undermining Medicare negotiation. As the year goes on, we anticipate even more spending from the industry on their never-ending influence campaign as they work to claw back patient progress. — [Sludge, Open Secrets, STAT News]

For PBMs, Government Scrutiny Continues

PBMs remain under scrutiny this week with the House Oversight Committee expanding its inquiry and Chair James Comer sending letters to Cigna and UnitedHealth’s OptumRX about efforts “to evade transparency and oversight” in the U.S. At the same time the FTC is advancing a complaint against Cigna, OptumRX, and CVS’ Caremark, alleging anticompetitive practices related to inflated list prices for insulin drugs. PBMs profit from opaque “rebate” deals while offering little in the way of benefits to patients. Congress came close to enacting bipartisan PBM reform at the end of 2024, and there is still solid interest in getting those reforms signed into law. P4AD welcomed the FTC’s initial findings on PBMs’ harmful practices last July, and we’ll be watching closely to ensure that real transparency is brought to the PBM black box and that reforms will help lower drug prices for patients. — [House Oversight, Endpoints News, Roll Call, P4AD, FTC, Axios, Becker’s Hospital Review, Healthcare Finance] 

ICYMI

Health Affairs published two new articles dissecting the harmfulORPHAN Cures Act and the impact of rare disease exemptions on the Medicare Negotiation Program: “Exemptions and delays to the negotiation of orphan drugs are poised to erode [Medicare negotiation] savings by more than previous analyses suggested,” and “the impact of exemptions and delays will grow.” — [Health Affairs, Health Affairs]

Patient Advocate Spotlight: Aarolyn McCullough

Condition: Diabetes

Drugs: Everolimus, Zortress, and Ozempic ($100, but would be $2,000 per month without coverage)

Background: Michigan resident and liver transplant survivor

In her words: 

“I can thankfully afford [my prescriptions] due to manufacturer assistance and health coverage benefits I receive through my former employer: the United States Postal Service. But without such assistance, a situation which I have faced before in the past, I would be paying about $2,000 per month for all of my medications.”

“In these circumstances, I’ve either had to change prescriptions or cope with the fact that I may die, and that is a fact that runs constantly in my thoughts.”

“As a retired individual, this should not be my reality. As an American citizen, I believe we deserve lower cost prescription drugs because we are simply overpaying compared to the rate other countries pay for the same or equivalent medications.” 

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Pharma’s Continued Attempts to Shrink MFN

It’s been four weeks since Trump sent letters to 17 pharmaceutical companies demanding they align prescription drug prices with other high income nations, and Big Pharma is working hard to avoid any and all concessions or reforms. Pfizer’s Albert Bourla has referred to Trump’s executive order (EO) and letters as a “starting point” for negotiations, and Eli Lilly has responded with plans to significantly raise drug prices in Europe, without making any commitment to reducing prices in the United States. As our own Executive Director Merith Basey said late last week, “unless Pharma is forced to give up any power or ability to raise drug prices, it’s highly unlikely that they will do it on their own.” Let’s not forget that despite their public posturing, drug companies are still aggressively raising prices — with July’s price hike seeing the majority of increases far exceeding the rate of inflation. — [White House, Axios, CNN, Inside Health Policy]

August Recess Ends, New Pharma-Backed Lege Push Begins

Even after receiving a $5 billion handout via the ORPHAN Cures Act (which is expected to increase further with the pending rescore), the industry continues to demand even more. We’re closely watching two pharma-backed bills that could come into play before the end of the year: EPIC and MINI. The harmful Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act (H.R. 1492) would delay small-molecule drug eligibility for negotiation from 9 to 13 years, keeping prices artificially high for patients for even longer. EPIC would be yet another carveout to Medicare negotiation at the taxpayer’s expense, and another insult at a time when polling shows pharma’s popularity with the public is at an all-time low. The Maintaining Investments in New Innovation (MINI) Act (H.R. 1672) is similar to EPIC, aiming to raise the exclusivity period from 9 to 13 years for genetically targeted technologies (GTTs). Both bills rely on faulty arguments and fearmongering around innovation that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny — and both would sabotage President Trump’s ability to secure a better deal for Americans. If legislation results in higher drug prices for patients and higher costs for the federal government, it can only mean one thing: the rampant reach of pharma. — [Wall Street Journal, P4AD]

ICYMI

It’s a “thankless and lonely gig” being a pharma CEO? Try being a patient on a high cost drug, in a drug pricing system rigged against you. The whining of overpaid pharma CEOs isn’t landing with us given they’re fighting tooth and nail to roll back progress and keep prices high at massive harm to patients.

Patient Advocate Spotlight: Victor

Condition: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a rare genetic disorder

Drug(s): Metyrosine ($36,700 / month) — currently unaffordable

Background: 23 year old from Virginia

In her words: 

In his mother Kelly’s words: “Before he got sick, Victor was smart, funny, and determined. In December 2022, after a sinus infection, everything changed. Almost overnight, Victor began hallucinating, became confused, forgot basic skills, lost continence, had significant behavioral changes and could barely speak. We were told he’d return to baseline in “weeks to months”. It’s been almost three years. He endured misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis, before finally learning the truth: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.” 

“[Our doctor] recommended metyrosine for Victor because it targets the excess catecholamines driving his symptoms and no other alternatives address this root cause. However, insurance has denied it. Without insurance, 120 capsules cost $36,700 a month; far beyond our reach. Without this medication, Victor will have no quality of life and may ultimately be forced into an institution, a devastating and preventable outcome.” 

“Metyrosine can treat the root cause of these symptoms, it could give Victor the chance to speak again, care for himself, and return to the passions he once loved. Instead, my son is left to suffer because of cost, policy gaps, and a system that fails rare disease patients.” 

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Pharma Launches New Lobbying Group

AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, and Merck have launched a new lobbying group aimed squarely at undermining the popular Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program —  the most significant check on pharma’s monopoly power in decades. Since the law’s passage in 2022, the industry has poured billions into lobbying and filed numerous lawsuits to block this progress. But the courts continue to side with patients. Having failed in court 12 times, drug companies are doubling down on their legislative strategy, with record-breaking lobbying spends in Q1 and Q2 and the launch of this new front group. Yet momentum remains with patients: Medicare negotiation continues to move forward, with STAT News reporting that the administration may push for even lower prices in the next round of negotiation, another win for Americans who are tired of paying the highest drug prices in the world. — [STAT News, P4AD, Endpoints News, POLITICO Pro, STAT News, Bloomberg Law]

Eli Lilly’s Price Hikes Abroad

Eli Lilly has indicated plans to significantly raise drug prices in Europe, without making any commitment to reducing prices in the United States. The company, like other manufacturers, already earns healthy profits in every country where it operates, yet Americans pay four to eight times more than people in peer nations for the same medicines. Raising prices abroad will do nothing to make medicines more affordable for Americans. By moving forward with a Most Favored Nation-style approach, the administration has the potential to secure a better deal for U.S. patients, but only if it includes enforcement mechanisms to prevent pharma from gaming the system and shifting costs elsewhere. Pharma action alone will not lower prices. — [CNN, STAT News, BioPharma Dive, Reuters, CNBC, Inside Health Policy]

MAHA Takes Aim at Pharma DTC Advertising

On Wednesday, it was reported that leaked documents from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission included plans to implement new oversight measures on pharma’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising — specifically on “deceptive” marketing tactics. In recent months, we’ve seen a growing trend of legislation introduced that would target these practices, including the bipartisan and P4ADNow-endorsed No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act, which would eliminate a tax break that allows Big Pharma to flood the airwaves and grow their influence at the expense of taxpayers. The U.S. is one of only two countries that allows DTC advertising for pharmaceutical drugs, and HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has long criticized this practice. Americans understand that pharma is the reason drug prices are high, and the desire to crack down on this practice shows there’s a real appetite for common sense industry reform. — [PharmaVoice, Washington Examiner, Hawley, X]

ICYMI

A new op-ed in Health Affairs this week highlighted Congress’s opportunity to crack down on patent thickets: a pharma tactic used to block competition in the drug market. The piece underscores the need for bipartisan bills like the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act, a bill unanimously passed by the Senate last year, which would limit the number of patents a drug company can assert on a biologic drug. — [HealthAffairs, P4ADNow]

Patient Advocate Spotlight: Jackie Trapp

Condition: Multiple Myeloma, an incurable blood cancer

Drug(s): Revlimid ($180k / year before the $2k cap) and Xarelto

Background: Former high school teacher from Muskego, WI

In her words: 

“Since my diagnosis ten years ago, the price of my prescriptions has been a constant source of stress and instability in my life. We have decimated our life savings and equity and have put off appointments we deem less vital. I am grateful for the drug that has saved my life, but I am also resentful that the financial burden is draining my life at the same time. The out-of-pocket cap is life-changing for my husband and me. We are finally able to replenish our savings account and do things we have been putting off, like seeing the dentist — and I don’t have to worry about leaving my husband bankrupt.”

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