Welcome to the Week in Review (a day early, in observance of Juneteenth)
Colorado Stands Up to Big Pharma
In a big win for patients, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed into law SB 21-175, a bill that establishes a prescription drug affordability board. Colorado is the third state in the country to establish such a board, the first in the country to have a board with the authority to set upper payment limits, and the first in the country where set rates apply to all insurers. The new prescription drug affordability board, which has overwhelming support from Coloradans, is an important step to protecting patients and standing up to Big Pharma. — (AP)
2.Aduhelm: Medicare Negotiation Poster Child
The pricey new Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, which Biogen priced at $56,000, is set to cost taxpayers billions — and underscores exactly why we need Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Big Pharma cannot be allowed to keep dictating drug prices, in this case for an unproven drug, while taxpayers and patients empty their pockets. H.R. 3, the bill in the House to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prices on behalf of Americans, would restore balance to our system so we can get real innovation at prices we can afford. — (The Washington Post)
3.NJ Patients Need Congress To Support H.R. 3
P4ADNow founder David Mitchell penned an op-ed that calls on members of Congress, including Sen. Menendez and Rep. Gottheimer, to stand with New Jersey patients and pass H.R. 3. Mitchell explains the need for Medicare negotiation by highlighting New Jersey patient Lisa Wetzel-Trainor’s story about living with fibromyalgia, PTSD, and ADHD and struggling to afford her $1,000-a-month medication she is prescribed to treat her symptoms. More than 1 million Medicare patients in New Jersey would benefit from Medicare negotiation. “It’s time to act.” — (NJ Herald)
4.?, Maine!
The Maine state house and senate passed Making Health Care Work for Maine, a strong bipartisan package of five bills that stand up to Big Pharma. If signed into law, two of the bills — LD 675 and LD 1117 — will be the first legislation of its kind to protect patients from pharmaceutical price gouging and unjustified price increases. No patient should suffer so pharma can line its pockets. — (P4ADNow)
5.The People Have Spoken
New KFF research confirms that prescription drug prices continue to be a top issue to American voters. Three in 10 Americans report they were unable to take their medication as prescribed because of the price. To bring relief to those patients, nearly nine of 10 Americans favor allowing the government to negotiate with drug companies for a lower price that would apply to both Medicare and private insurance. Pass H.R. 3, Congress! The people have your back! — (KFF)
Bonus?: Patients For Affordable Drugs Founder David Mitchell talks to Healthcare-NOW about the importance of Medicare negotiation, drug pricing and innovation, and the COVID-19 vaccine. — (Healthcare-NOW!)
This week: a new royal baby and a new drug only royalty can afford. Welcome to the Week in Review.
Drug Pricing Poster Child
After the FDA approved Aduhelm, a drug intended to target the disease process of Alzheimer’s, drug maker Biogen set its list price at a staggering $56,000 per year. It’s an outrageous price for a drug that hasn’t even been proven clinically effective yet. At this cost, treatment for even one-third of Alzheimer’s patients would raise U.S. drug spending by about 22 percent. Aduhelm is a poster child for why Medicare should be allowed to negotiate drug prices — our system and patients cannot support unlimited prices. Without Medicare negotiation, we’re going to watch “our system bend, break, buckle under the weight of this kind of drug and this kind of pricing.” — (USA Today)
2.Congress Negotiates Negotiation
Congressional Democrats are continuing to work on legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. Senate Finance Chair Wyden is drafting a bill that is expected to include negotiation, Senate Majority Leader Schumer is also at work on the issue, and House Democrats are pushing to include H.R. 3 in the next budget reconciliation package. Congress must keep advancing on a path to reform our broken drug pricing system and lower prices for Americans. — (The Hill, The Washington Post)
3.Colorado Makes History
In a huge win for Colorado patients, the state legislature passed a bill that would establish the third prescription drug affordability board in the nation — and the first with the power to set upper payment limits on unaffordable drugs. We are grateful to state lawmakers for standing with Colorado patients and look forward to Gov. Jared Polis’ signature on the bill in the coming weeks! — (The Denver Post)
4. Seniors Pay The Price
A new AARP report found that the prices of 260 commonly used drugs increased by more than double the rate of inflation last year. Drug prices are becoming more and more unsustainable for seniors like Pam Holt, who lives with multiple myeloma and pays thousands of dollars for Revlimid each year, and Lynn Scarfuto, who lives with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. “People cannot afford to make a choice between food or living and taking pills,” Lynn said. — (AARP, MarketWatch, USA Today)
5. Pharma Pours Cash On Lawmakers
New analyses from STAT reveal the broad financial influence that pharma has in Congress and in state legislatures across the country. During the 2020 election cycle, the drug industry made campaign contributions to over two-thirds of Congress and one-third of state lawmakers, totaling about $23 million. Patients can’t match pharma in its outrageous spending funded by constant price hikes, but we are fighting back with our voices and stories — and we will win. — (STAT)
What do AbbVie and UFOs have in common? They’re both under investigation by the U.S. government.
Welcome to the Week in Review.
Take The Lead: Pass H.R. 3
New national and state polls from West Health show just how popular Medicare negotiation is among Americans. Across the country, 81 percent of Americans believe the government should be allowed to negotiate lower drug prices, with similar levels of support in Arizona, Delaware, New Jersey, and West Virginia. It’s settled: Americans demand Medicare negotiation. Congress must pass H.R. 3 now. — (The Hill)
2.Pharma Adds To List Of Offenses
Following last month’s House Oversight and Reform Committee hearingon pharma giant AbbVie’s abusive pricing practices, on Wednesday the Senate Finance Committee launched its own probe into the drug company’s scheme to avoid paying American taxes. In a letter to the CEO of AbbVie, Senate Finance Chair Wyden raised concerns that AbbVie reported a domestic pretax loss of $4.5 billion and a foreign pretax profit of $7.9 billion last year despite generating most of its revenue in the United States. Yet again, pharma shows it’s all too willing to exploit taxpayers and patients, all to maximize its bottom line. — (Reuters)
3.“An Easy Choice That Will Save Lives”
The New Jersey legislature must establish a prescription drug affordability board and lower drug prices for patients across the state, writes Assemblyman John McKeon in an op-ed. Polls show that 43 percent of New Jerseyans have delayed or forgone taking a prescribed medication due to high costs, and 88 percent support drug affordability board legislation. “All across our state working families are struggling to afford life-saving medicine,” McKeon writes. “It’s time to focus on the real problem and bring down drug costs for everyone in New Jersey.” — (The Star-Ledger)
Between the Friends reunion and pharma’s lies about H.R. 3’s impact on innovation, it sure feels like deja vu.Welcome to the Week in Review.
Momentum Grows
This week, 156 House Democrats — 70 percent of the House Democratic Caucus — signed a letter urging the Biden administration to include Medicare negotiation in the American Families Plan. Meanwhile, President Biden doubled down on his support of proposals to lower drug prices in his 2022 budget released Friday. The momentum for passing meaningful reforms clear — Congress, the president, and patients agree that lowering drug prices must be a top priority this year. Together, we’ll fight to get it done. — (The New York Times)
2.Pharma Giant At It Again
Just as the House Oversight and Reform Committee released its reporton the abusive pricing practices of pharma giant AbbVie, the company is helping to bankroll enormous lobbying efforts to block comprehensive drug pricing legislation in Congress. Big Pharma claims its high prices fund innovation, but it’s clear high prices reap enormous profits for the industry — and Big Pharma doesn’t want to see an end to those anytime soon. — (Salon)
3.Negotiation Works
The success of COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution in the United States is a testament to how government investment and price negotiation can rapidly bring patients the drugs we need without sacrificing innovation, according to a new op-ed by Harvard economist Richard Frank and Mark Miller of Arnold Ventures. “Negotiation accompanied by infrastructure and innovation investments can balance both the budget and the need for scientific breakthroughs, making innovative therapies accessible and affordable,” the authors write. “Americans deserve better than what they are currently getting.” — (The Hill)
Captain America has weighed in — drug prices must be lowered. Welcome to the Week in Review.
Dear Congress: Patients Need You To Keep Fighting
Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched a national campaign this week urging members of Congress in 42 House districts to support H.R. 3, which would allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. The campaign includes video ads featuring patient Marcus LaCour, who lives with type 1 diabetes. “Because insulin is so expensive, I’ve had to skip and ration my doses,” Marcus says in one ad. “We need Congress to keep their promises, and get the job done now.” The campaign comes as the fight for drug pricing heats up, with Big Pharma doing everything it can to fight against much-needed drug pricing reform. The message from patients is clear: Congress must stand with patients instead of with pharma’s special interests. — (Fox Business, Axios)
2.The Price Of Pharma’s Unilateral Pricing Power
During a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing examining pharma giant AbbVie’s unethical pricing practices, three patient advocates shared their experiences with the impact of the company’s high-priced drugs. “The excessive Humira price forces me to choose every month whether to eat or fill my prescriptions,” Katherine Pepper, who is prescribed Humira injections for psoriatic arthritis, told the committee. “You have the power to change that,” Lynn Scarfuto, who lives with cancer and takes Imbruvica, told the members. — (NBC)
3. H.R. 3 Is Good For Business
A new analysis estimates that Medicare negotiation would save employers $195 billion and workers $61 billion from 2023 to 2029. Nearly 90 percent of small business owners say in a separate poll that drug costs are too high. 85 percent believe Medicare should be allowed to negotiate the prices of costly prescription drugs. H.R. 3 has a broad reach: It will bring patients, employers, and employees relief. — (West Health, Small Business for America’s Future)
4. Patent Abuse Alert
A report from drug patent watchdog I-MAK delves into Merck’s abusive patent practices on its cancer drug Keytruda, which currently has an annual price of over $165,000. The 53 patents Merck has received on the drug have extended Merck’s monopoly pricing period by an additional eight years. During that time, it’s estimated Americans will spend $137 billion on Keytruda. It’s a prime example of how drug companies weaponize a patent system meant to reward innovation and use it to turn billions in profit. — (I-MAK)
5. Patients Take On State Capitols
Patients also made their voices heard in state legislatures this week. In Colorado, patient advocate Kris Garcia shared his story in support of a bill that would establish a prescription drug affordability board. “I had to give up my dream of being a business owner because of how expensive my medications were,” Kris said. The bill was passed out of the House Health and Insurance Committee on a 8-4 vote. Oregon patient advocate Joanna Olson, who takes Eliquis, delivered testimony in support of a bill that would ban collusive “pay-for-delay” deals between drug manufacturers. “Every time I pick up the prescription, I think about leaving without the drug,” Joanna shared. — (P4ADNow)
If Bennifer can be revived, drug prices can be lowered. Welcome to the Week in Review.
“The Time To Act Is Now”
Rep. Peter Welch and P4AD founder David Mitchell penned an op-ed for The Hill that calls on Congress to pass H.R. 3, a bill that would finally let Medicare negotiate for lower drug prices. “Now is the time for Congress to pass legislation that will deliver meaningful relief from high drug prices to the American people,” they write. We can’t keep upholding a system that allows patients to die because they can’t afford the drugs they need. Congress must stand with patients and support H.R. 3. — (The Hill)
2. Maine Fights Pharma Greed Statewide And Nationally
This week, Rep. Jared Golden (ME-02) authored an op-ed in the Bangor Daily News, warning Congress not to fall for Big Pharma’s lies as legislators look to make drugs affordable with bills like H.R. 3. “Big pharmaceutical companies’ greed stands in the way of progress to lower prescription drug prices,” Rep. Golden writes. Earlier in the week, the BDN editorial board praised Maine lawmakers for prioritizing lowering prescription drug prices this session. State legislators are currently considering a sweeping package of bills that would reduce prices for Maine patients. The message in Maine is clear — patients need relief. — (Bangor Daily News Opinion, Bangor Daily News Editorial Board)
3.WV Senators: Patients Need You
In a letter to the editor, West Virginia patient Ashley Suder calls on Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito to support H.R. 3. Ashley lives with lupus and depends on Benlysta, which costs over $35,000 — and figuring out how to afford the drug is a constant battle. Patients, already burdened with the physical and mental toll of living with an illness, shouldn’t also have to fight for affordable medications. For patients like Ashley, we must do better. — (The Charleston Gazette-Mail)
4. A Case Study: Cancer Drugs
Cancer drugs are incredibly expensive, creating an astronomical financial burden on taxpayers. Because many of these drugs lack direct competitors, pharma companies essentially have free rein to dictate prices. Meanwhile, Big Pharma wants cancer patients and families to think high prices are the only way to ensure that new treatments keep coming to market. It’s simply not true. We don’t have to choose between affordable medications and new treatments. — (Fortune)
5. Cracking The Innovation Myth
Big Pharma, desperate to keep its unfettered pricing power, insists that Medicare negotiation bills like H.R. 3 would stifle innovation and prevent patient access to critical new drugs. The truth is, H.R. 3 would allow patients to get the important innovation they need at prices they can afford, and pharma would still remain one of the most profitable industries. Don’t fall for pharma’s bald-faced lie. — (Fast Company)
This week, P4ADNow founder David Mitchell delivered testimony to a House Education and Labor subcommittee, urging members of Congress to support H.R. 3 and explaining that the legislation would restore balance to our drug pricing system to ensure innovation and affordability. Patient advocate Therese Ball also shared her story in testimony before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, calling on Congress to allow Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices on behalf of patients like her. “I had a front-row seat to the horrifying reality of our drug pricing system,” Therese told the subcommittee. “Drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them.” — (Cox Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group)
2.Top Of The List
Congressional leadership is planning to take on the “most powerful lobbying group in Washington” and pass legislation to reduce prescription drug prices this year — and the political environment in D.C. means they might have a real chance of getting it done. The vast majority of Americans agree passing such legislation should be a priority for Congress. It’s time to relieve the burden of high drug prices for all Americans. — (HuffPost)
3.Pharma Showers Congress In Cash
In a signal that Big Pharma knows change is on the horizon, the industry is doing everything it can to fight against lower drug prices, pouring a record $92 million in the first quarter of 2021 into lobbying. Big Pharma is continuing its spending trend in the second quarter — just this week, the industry launched a $4 million dark money campaign loaded with lies to attack H.R. 3. Patients are continuing to make their voices heard to remind legislators to stand up for millions of Americans being crushed at the pharmacy counter. — (FiercePharma)
4. Advance The Affordability Board
On Friday, the Colorado Senate passed a bill that would establish a prescription drug affordability board with the power to set upper payment limits. The measure is extremely popular, with polls showing that 3 in 4Colorado voters support the creation of a board to rein in drug prices. Now, the Colorado House must take on the mantle and move quickly to advance the bill and protect patients across the state. — (KUSA)
5. “Something Has To Change”
In an op-ed, Maine patient advocate Sabrina Burbeck describes her family’s experiences with unaffordable drug prices, including the high price of her son’s Humalog insulin. She calls on the Maine legislature to pass a package of drug pricing bills that would make medications more affordable and hold drug companies accountable. “No mother should have to worry if the life of her bright, loving, and curious child will be cut short because the price of their medication spikes overnight or they simply can’t afford it one month,” Sabrina writes. — (Portland Press Herald)
This was our reaction on Wednesday night when President Biden pledged to take action on prescription drug prices. Welcome to the Week in Review.
Let’s Do It NOW
During his address to a joint session of Congress, President Biden clearly reaffirmed his commitment to allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices. “It won’t just help people on Medicare – it’ll lower prescription drug costs for everyone,” the president said. “It’s within our power to do it. Let’s do it now.” Mr. President, patients are with you. We can make this the year we restore balance to our drug pricing system. — (The Hill)
2.The Moment Has Arrived
Congressional leaders are following President Biden’s lead by advancing drug pricing legislation and holding hearings in the coming week. Rep. Pallone, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said passing the legislation is one of his top priorities. Sen. Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said he is looking for every opportunity to include Medicare negotiation. Speaker Pelosi said, “We’ve been working on this [policy] for almost a generation. It’s time to do that.” We couldn’t agree more. — (House Energy and Commerce Committee, STAT)
3.Paying Premium Prices
A government analysis found that the net prices of 20 commonly used prescription drugs are two to four times higher in the United States compared to other wealthy nations. As just one example, an Anoro Ellipta inhaler has a price of $248 in the United States and $76 in Canada. We can’t allow drug companies to keep dictating prices of brand-name drugs in the U.S. while families struggle to afford necessary medications. — (U.S. Government Accountability Office)
4. Near Unanimous Support
According to a new survey, more than 90 percent of Americans support allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, and believe all Americans, no matter where they get their insurance from, should benefit from negotiated prices. There’s no question — there is broad, bipartisan support for government action to rein in high prescription drug prices. It’s clear what we need to do. — (Protect Our Care)
5. Health Equity Requires Lower Drug Prices
The Colorado state legislature must establish a prescription drug affordability board to help alleviate medication inaccessibility, an issue that disproportionately affects people of color, writes Dr. Sheila Davis in an op-ed. “As a medical professional, I know that taking a step towards reining in drug costs through a prescription drug affordability board is paramount to advancing public health,” Davis writes. “And as a community advocate and concerned citizen, I also know that this policy is a small but important step to advance racial and economic justice and create a better tomorrow for Colorado.” — (Boulder Daily Camera)
Correction: Last week’s edition cited an article that said drug spending in the United States increased $535 billion from 2019 to 2020. We should have said that drug spending grew to $535 billion.
