Latest News | Jun 6, 2023

STATEMENT: P4ADNow Blasts Merck & Co’s Bogus Lawsuit; Corrects The Record On Medicare Negotiation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following statement was issued by David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, in response to Merck & Co’s lawsuit filed against the U.S. government over the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare negotiation provision: 

“Merck’s bogus lawsuit bemoans Medicare’s negotiation authority as “tantamount to extortion” – but the truth is, Big Pharma companies like Merck are the ones who have been extorting patients for years, forcing them to pay unjustified prices or sacrifice their health.

“The reality is, drug corporations that are subject to Medicare’s new authority – and who already negotiate with every other high-income country in the world – will engage in a negotiation process after setting their own launch prices and enjoying nine years or more of monopoly profits. Contrary to the lawsuit’s claims, the framework laid out by Medicare for negotiation will actually incentivize innovation because the government will pay more for more innovative products by centering the clinical value of a drug in the negotiation process.

“We believe that courts will see Merck’s lawsuit for what it is: a meritless attempt to maintain its ability to unilaterally set prices that are untethered to quality at the expense of patients. The truth is, implementation of Medicare negotiation is a desperately needed, long-awaited rebalancing of our drug price system that will help millions of patients obtain the medications they need at prices they can afford while ensuring continued innovation.” 

Background:

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Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

Welcome To The Week In Review.

1.  Drug Prices Are Too High And Patients Pay The Price

 2.   The Truth About The Inflation Reduction Act 

3. The Looming Question Of Paying For Cell And Gene Therapies  

BONUS: William Feldman and Aaron Kesselheim’s new Washington Post op-ed shines light on yet another way drug companies abuse our patent system to protect lucrative monopolies at the cost of patient health and financial well-being. Worth a read!

Have a great weekend! 

The 20 highest-paid drug industry CEOs each made $20 million or more last year. That’s enough to buy about 28,000 Taylor Swift tickets or 57,000 Beyonce tickets. Drug pricing sure is ready for its Renaissance Era. 

Welcome To The Week In Review.

1.  PBM Reforms Are In The House

 2.   “A Price That Is Simply Too High” 

3. The Inflation Reduction Act: More Relief Is On The Horizon

BONUS: Advocates are fighting back against high drug prices at the state level as well. In Colorado, patients like Kris Garcia have been pivotal in the passage of Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs). Read more about the state’s implementation of its new PDAB here!

Happy Memorial Day! Hope everyone enjoys the three-day weekend! ☀️🇺🇸

Congrats to Lizzo for winning this year’s Elevate Prize Catalyst Award! We were proud to have P4AD’s Merith Basey representing patients at the #MakeGoodFamous summit this week. It’s About Damn Time [to lower drug prices]!

Welcome To The Week In Review.

1.  Momentum For PBM Reform

 2.  Scamming and Cheating: Big Pharma’s Middle Name

3. Numbers Don’t Lie: Drug Prices Are Notoriously High

BONUS: P4AD’s Merith Basey went head-to-head with pharma executives this week at the Financial Times US Pharma and Biotech Summit! During a panel discussion on the Inflation Reduction Act, Merith debunked the industry’s false claims about innovation, explained how the new law will help patients who are struggling with high drug prices, and set the record straight on the role of taxpayer investment in R&D. Thanks for advocating for people over profit, Merith!  

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Welcome To The Week In Review.

1.  Critical Win: Senate HELP Passes Bipartisan Package

 2.  Pushing Back On Big Pharma Lies

3. Applauding The Inflation Reduction Act

Have a great weekend, everyone!

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following statement was issued by Merith Basey, executive director of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, in response to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s vote to advance a package of bipartisan bills. This legislation would lower drug prices by promoting transparency, competition, and accountability and curbing anticompetitive behavior committed by pharmaceutical corporations and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs): 
 
“On behalf of patients across the U.S., we applaud Chairman Sanders, Ranking Member Cassidy, and the members of the Senate HELP Committee for passing bipartisan legislation to increase competition, incentivize innovation, require transparency, and crack down on opaque practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). This package of bills represents a significant step towards restoring accountability to the U.S. drug price system so that it prioritizes patients, rather than the bottom line of the pharma and PBM industries.
 
“We call on Senate Majority Leader Schumer to bring these bills to the floor for a vote as soon as possible. It’s high time we restore balance to our rigged drug price system – patients can’t wait!”

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Background:

The following written testimony was submitted on behalf of David Mitchell, founder and president of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, ahead of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing on “Examining Policies that Inhibit Innovation and Patient Access”:

A lovely recognition from Washingtonian (and on his 73rd birthday!🥳) of our founder David Mitchell who was an “integral player in forcing the prescription-drug provision into the Inflation Reduction Act.” Congrats, David! Well deserved.

Welcome To The Week In Review.

1. Dozens Of Organizations Pressure Senate To Lower Drug Prices

 2.  More Inflation Reduction Act Savings For Patients — “It’s huge.”

3. Big Pharma’s Greed Knows No End

BONUS: Florida patient advocate Xanadu Roque eloquently speaks about her experience growing up with type 1 diabetes, issues with accessing insulin in her community, and the growing pressure from advocates to lower insulin prices. Check it out!

Have a great weekend, everyone!