OREGON — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now kicks off a campaign today calling on Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-05) to support swift passage of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a package of drug pricing reforms that includes allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices for Oregonians. The campaign includes digital advertising and grassroots advocacy to enable constituents to contact Rep. Schrader to urge him to stand with Oregonians and support H.R. 3.
“Our message to Rep. Schrader is clear: You have a choice. You can stand with Big Pharma, which is fighting against lower drug prices for your constituents, or stand with Oregonians. Now is the moment to show that you will fight for patients,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Oregonians need Rep. Schrader to push for passage of H.R. 3 to ensure we get affordable medicines we need now and innovation for the future.”
H.R. 3 was recently reintroduced in the House of Representatives. The chamber passed the bill in the 116th Congress. H.R. 3 is a comprehensive bill that will lower prices, rein in price gouging, and reduce out-of-pocket costs by restoring balance to the U.S. drug pricing system to ensure both innovation and affordability.
The campaign is part of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now’s seven-figure national campaign launching simultaneously in 42 House districts across 22 states and in D.C. It comes on the heels of Big Pharma’s recent attack adloaded with lies about H.R. 3.
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FLORIDA — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now kicks off a campaign today calling on Rep. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07) to support swift passage of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a package of drug pricing reforms that includes allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices for Floridians. The campaign includes digital advertising and grassroots advocacy to enable constituents to contact Rep. Murphy to urge her to stand with Floridians and support H.R. 3.
“Our message to Rep. Murphy is clear: You have a choice. You can stand with Big Pharma, which is fighting against lower drug prices for your constituents, or stand with Floridians. Now is the moment to show that you will fight for patients,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Floridians need Rep. Murphy to push for passage of H.R. 3 to ensure we get affordable medicines we need now and innovation for the future.”
H.R. 3 was recently reintroduced in the House of Representatives. The chamber passed the bill in the 116th Congress. H.R. 3 is a comprehensive bill that will lower prices, rein in price gouging, and reduce out-of-pocket costs by restoring balance to the U.S. drug pricing system to ensure both innovation and affordability.
The campaign is part of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now’s seven-figure national campaign launching simultaneously in 42 House districts across 22 states and in D.C. It comes on the heels of Big Pharma’s recent attack adloaded with lies about H.R. 3.
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ILLINOIS — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now kicks off a campaign today thanking Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) for supporting H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a package of drug pricing reforms that includes allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prices for Illinoisans. The campaign includes digital ads as well as grassroots advocacy, in which constituents will contact Rep. Underwood to thank her for fighting for patients. The campaign comes after Big Pharma launched a campaign loaded with lies, pressuring Rep. Underwood not to support H.R. 3.
“Big Pharma is trying to get Rep. Underwood to bow to its power with lies and fear-mongering. But she is standing strong to win reforms that will lower the outrageous prices of prescription drugs,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Thanks to Rep. Underwood’s leadership, we can pass H.R. 3 to ensure we get affordable medicines we need now and innovation for the future.”
The campaign launches with an ad highlighting patient advocate Marcus LaCour, who lives with type 1 diabetes. The ad will run on digital platforms in Illinois’ fourteenth district.
You can watch the ad here.
“I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 15 years old. Because insulin is so expensive, I’ve had to skip and ration my doses. My wife has had to skip meals so that we could afford the insulin that I needed to survive,” LaCour, a Cincinnati husband, father, minister, and drug affordability advocate says in the video ad. “No family should have to make that decision. For millions of Americans, it’s serious enough that we need help.”
H.R. 3 was recently reintroduced in the House of Representatives. The chamber passed the bill in the 116th Congress. H.R. 3 is a comprehensive bill that will lower prices, rein in price gouging, and reduce out-of-pocket costs by restoring balance to the U.S. drug pricing system to ensure both innovation and affordability.
The Illinois campaign is part of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now’s seven-figure national campaign launching in 42 House districts across 22 states and in D.C.
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TEXAS — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now kicks off a campaign today thanking Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), and Colin Allred (TX-32) for supporting H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a package of drug pricing reforms that includes allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prices for Texans. The campaign includes TV and digital ads as well as grassroots advocacy, in which constituents will contact Reps. Fletcher, Gonzalez, and Allred to thank them for fighting for patients. The campaign comes after Big Pharma launched a campaign loaded with lies, pressuring the representatives not to support H.R. 3.
“Big Pharma is trying to get Reps. Fletcher, Gonzalez, and Allred to bow to its power with lies and fear-mongering. But they are standing strong to win reforms that will lower the outrageous prices of prescription drugs,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Thanks to Reps. Fletcher, Gonzalez, and Allred’s leadership, we can pass H.R. 3 to ensure we get affordable medicines we need now and innovation for the future.”
The campaign features ads highlighting patient advocate Marcus LaCour, who lives with type 1 diabetes. The ads will run on a combination of TV and digital platforms in districts TX-07, TX-15, and TX-32.
You can watch the ad in TX-07 here.
You can watch the ad in TX-15 here.
You can watch the ad in TX-32 here.
“I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 15 years old. Because insulin is so expensive, I’ve had to skip and ration my doses. My wife has had to skip meals so that we could afford the insulin that I needed to survive,” LaCour, a Cincinnati husband, father, minister, and drug affordability advocate says in the video ad. “No family should have to make that decision. For millions of Americans, it’s serious enough that we need help.”
H.R. 3 was recently reintroduced in the House of Representatives. The chamber passed the bill in the 116th Congress. H.R. 3 is a comprehensive bill that will lower prices, rein in price gouging, and reduce out-of-pocket costs by restoring balance to the U.S. drug pricing system to ensure both innovation and affordability.
The Texas campaign is part of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now’s seven-figure national campaign launching in 42 House districts across 22 states and in D.C.
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HAWAII — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now kicks off a campaign today calling on Rep. Ed Case (HI-01) to support swift passage of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a package of drug pricing reforms that includes allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices. The campaign includes digital advertising and grassroots advocacy to enable constituents to contact Rep. Case and urge him to stand with Hawaii patients and support H.R. 3.
“Our message to Rep. Case is clear: You have a choice. You can stand with Big Pharma, which is fighting against lower drug prices for your constituents, or stand with Hawaii patients. Now is the moment to show that you will fight for patients,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Hawaii residents need Rep. Case to push for passage of H.R. 3 to ensure we get affordable medicines we need now and innovation for the future.”
H.R. 3 was recently reintroduced in the House of Representatives. The chamber passed the bill in the 116th Congress. H.R. 3 is a comprehensive bill that will lower prices, rein in price gouging, and reduce out-of-pocket costs by restoring balance to the U.S. drug pricing system to ensure both innovation and affordability.
The campaign is part of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now’s seven-figure national campaign launching simultaneously in 42 House districts across 22 states and in D.C. It comes on the heels of Big Pharma’s recent attack adloaded with lies about H.R. 3.
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PENNSYLVANIA— Patients For Affordable Drugs Now kicks off a campaign today thanking Reps. Susan Wild (PA-07), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), and Conor Lamb (PA-17) for supporting H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a package of drug pricing reforms that includes allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prices for Pennsylvanians. The campaign includes digital ads as well as grassroots advocacy, in which constituents will contact Reps. Wild, Cartwright, and Lamb to thank them for fighting for patients. The campaign comes after Big Pharma launched a campaign loaded with lies, pressuring the representatives not to support H.R. 3.
“Big Pharma is trying to get Reps. Wild, Cartwright, and Lamb to bow to its power with lies and fear-mongering. But they are standing strong to win reforms that will lower the outrageous prices of prescription drugs,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Thanks to Reps. Wild, Cartwright, and Lamb’s leadership, we can pass H.R. 3 to ensure we get affordable medicines we need now and innovation for the future.”
The campaign features ads highlighting patient advocate Marcus LaCour, who lives with type 1 diabetes. The ads will run on digital platforms in districts PA-07, PA-08, and PA-17.
You can watch the ad in PA-07 here.
You can watch the ad in PA-08 here.
You can watch the ad in PA-17 here.
“I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 15 years old. Because insulin is so expensive, I’ve had to skip and ration my doses. My wife has had to skip meals so that we could afford the insulin that I needed to survive,” LaCour, a Cincinnati husband, father, minister, and drug affordability advocate says in the video ad. “No family should have to make that decision. For millions of Americans, it’s serious enough that we need help.”
H.R. 3 was recently reintroduced in the House of Representatives. The chamber passed the bill in the 116th Congress. H.R. 3 is a comprehensive bill that will lower prices, rein in price gouging, and reduce out-of-pocket costs by restoring balance to the U.S. drug pricing system to ensure both innovation and affordability.
The Pennsylvania campaign is part of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now’s seven-figure national campaign launching in 42 House districts across 22 states and in D.C.
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SALEM, Ore. — Oregon patient advocate Joanna Olson will testify today in front of the Oregon House Health Care Committee in support of Senate Bill 764, which would crack down on abusive “pay-for-delay” deals between pharmaceutical manufacturers that delay generic competition and keep drug prices high.
Olson, a retired grandmother in Beaverton, suffers from a blood clotting condition. She is prescribed Eliquis, which costs her $430 for a month’s supply. “Every time I pick up the prescription, I think about leaving without the drug,” Olson, 86, will explain.
Eliquis wasn’t always this expensive — the company that makes it has hiked the price every year since 2013, nearly doubling the price during that time.
“Pharmaceutical companies set exorbitant prices while simultaneously blocking generic competition simply because they can,” Olson will say to the committee. “A common medicine needed by millions, like Eliquis, shouldn’t break the bank for seniors like me who live on a fixed income. I urge you to vote in support of Senate Bill 764 to bring much-needed relief to patients across our state.”
SB 764 would prohibit an anti-competitive drug industry tactic called “pay-for-delay,” in which a brand-name drug maker cuts a deal with a generic company to delay the introduction of a lower-priced drug to market. The bill would also allow the Oregon attorney general to bring civil action against companies involved in such deals, with penalties up to three times the value of the drug or $10 million (whichever amount is greater).
Oregon patient advocate Michael Nielsen testified in front of the Senate Health Care Committee in support of SB 764 in March. Nielsen’s wife, Jacki, was diagnosed with the potentially fatal disease hepatitis C, and her medication is priced at more than $13,000 — or $433 per pill.
The hearing and Olson’s testimony can be watched here at 3:15 PM PT.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three patients will share their personal experiences with the high prices of prescription drugs sold by pharmaceutical giant AbbVie today before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. The patient advocates will share their stories via recorded video during today’s hearing, “Unsustainable Drug Prices (Part III): Testimony from AbbVie CEO Richard Gonzalez,” held by the committee to examine AbbVie’s drug pricing behaviors.
“AbbVie has done everything in its power to keep raising prices on its blockbuster drugs,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Now Katherine, Jacqueline, and Lynn will tell Congress exactly the harm those high prices have caused to patients like them. It is time pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie are held to account for their abusive behaviors, and reforms are enacted to stop them.”
Watch the patient advocates’ stories at the hearing here starting at 10:00 AM ET today. Below are some highlights of their stories:
AbbVie manufactures the blockbuster drugs Humira and Imbruvica. Humira, which treats many inflammatory conditions, is the world’s top-selling drug. AbbVie has increased the price of Humira 27 times since 2003 to more than $77,000 each year. Imbruvica, which treats cancer, is priced at more than $181,000 per year and has gone up in price nine times since its launch in 2013.
AbbVie has a history of taking out many unnecessary patents on a singular drug in order to maintain market exclusivity longer to keep prices high — Humira is a prime example with 247 patent applications. AbbVie has been granted 88 patents for Imbruvica, which extends its commercial exclusivity to 29 years. It is expected that American patients will spend at least $41 billion on Imbruvica during the extra nine years of its monopoly.
The hearing, “Unsustainable Drug Prices (Part III): Testimony from AbbVie CEO Richard Gonzalez,” chaired by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, will examine the pricing and business practices of AbbVie. The hearing begins today at 10:00 AM ET and can be viewed here. Copies of the patients’ video and written stories are available upon request.
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