ICYMI, here’s a quick roundup of how we at P4AD celebrated and defended the drug price provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act on it’s one year anniversary:
1. Launch Of P4AD’s Bilingual Advocacy Hub
P4AD celebrated the new law’s anniversary by launching our advocacy hub in Spanish. The hub, all about the Inflation Reduction Act, breaks down the drug price reforms in the new law and provides tools for advocates to share their stories about high drug prices. P4AD’s Merith Basey remarked: “Latinos, many of whom are Spanish speakers, are disproportionately impacted by high drug prices and as part of our commitment to lowering drug prices we want to ensure more patients across the country are not only made aware of these new provisions, but understand how they will be able to benefit from them now and in the future.” Patient advocate Maria Sanchez is already feeling the impact of the $35 insulin copay cap: “This copay cap for insulin has saved me money that I can use to buy healthier food for my family, visit my grandchildren more often, or no longer skip out on my test strips,” she said upon the launch of the advocacy hub. We are excited for patients to continue to share their stories about how the new law is lowering drug prices and bringing medicines more within reach.
2. Amicus Brief, Rally, And Petition To Stop Medicare Negotiation Lawsuits
In response to drug companies’ recent ridiculous lawsuits to block Medicare negotiation, P4AD joined Public Citizen and three other health care advocacy groups in filing an amicus brief in support of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)’s fight to reject the Chamber of Commerce’s suit topause the Medicare negotiation program. Additionally, over 150,000 people signed a petition demanding Big Pharma drop the “unconscionable” lawsuits to halt the historic negotiation of drugs for people on Medicare. Advocates rallied and held a press conference outside of the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday to deliver the letter and petition. Patient advocate Jacqueline Garibay, a 22-year-old student from Austin, Texas, who lives with ankylosing spondylitis, spoke at the press conference about the impact of negotiated drug prices on patients: “The new drug price reforms are projected to save patients like me tens of billions of dollars.” P4AD is proud to stand with these organizations and advocates to defend Medicare negotiation, an historic step in the fight to rein in high drug prices and end Big Pharma’s unfettered pricing power.
3. New Op-Ed Defending Medicare Negotiation
This week, P4AD’s David Mitchell penned an opinion piece in The Hill setting the record straight about how Big Pharma’s lawsuits to stop Medicare negotiation would hurt patients. David lives with an incurable cancer and his prescription drugs carry a list price of almost $1,000,000 per year. “Eliquis, a blood thinner I must take that is likely to be one of the first drugs negotiated, has a list price of $6,825 per year in the U.S. because its maker, Bristol-Myers Squibb, has blocked competition,” David writes. “In Canada, where there is a generic, the price is $1,680.” The op-ed outlines how passage of the Inflation Reduction Act a year ago ended a nearly 20 year history during which Big Pharma reaped great profit from a prohibition on Medicare negotiating drug prices. He debunks drug companies’ claim that the new law will reduce drug innovation and explains that “drug companies will get higher prices for high-quality, innovative drugs.” Drug corporations’ “priorities are power and profit. Always,” David asserted. “We will support the legal fight against the pharmaceutical industry, and do all we can to make sure the courts understand how patients will be harmed if the law is delayed or overturned.” Read the full piece here.
Have a great weekend!
Patients Across The Country Are Feeling Relief From The Law’s Drug Price Reforms And Will Continue To Pay Lower Prices In Years To Come
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the one year anniversary of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow) marked the moment by launching a Spanish language version of its advocacy hub, es.medicarenegotiation.org. The site includes an explanation and timeline of the Inflation Reduction Act drug price reforms and tools for advocates to share their story and take action.
“Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is thrilled to celebrate the one year anniversary of the drug price provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act by launching our advocacy hub in Spanish,” said Merith Basey, executive director of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Latinos, many of whom are Spanish speakers, are disproportionately impacted by high drug prices and as part of our commitment to lowering drug prices we want to ensure more patients across the country are not only made aware of these new provisions, but understand how they will be able to benefit from them now and in the future.”
Patient advocates like Maria Sanchez of Atlanta, Georgia, are already feeling the impacts of the new law. Maria takes Toujeo insulin to manage her diabetes. Before the Inflation Reduction Act, a box of three pens was priced at $259.
“Now, Medicare Part D copays for insulin are capped at $35 for a month’s supply. This copay cap for insulin has saved me money that I can use to buy healthier food for my family, visit my grandchildren more often, or no longer skip out on my test strips,” Maria shared. “These savings will bring consistency to my payments, improve my quality of life, and allow me to purchase the drugs and health supplies I need.”
The groundbreaking drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed August 16, 2022, included:
Medicare negotiation: For the first time ever, Medicare is required to negotiate the prices of certain high-cost drugs — finally undoing the nearly 20-year ban on Medicare using its purchasing power to get a better deal for people in the United States.
Curbing drug company price gouging: For the first time ever, the Inflation Reduction Act will penalize drug companies for increasing drug prices faster than the rate of inflation.
Medicare Part D out-of-pocket caps: For the first time ever, there will be an annual limit on the amount people on Medicare pay for the prescriptions they pick up at the pharmacy. In 2025, that limit is set at $2,000, when right now some people pay more than $15,000 out-of-pocket each year.
$35 monthly insulin copay cap for Medicare: Starting earlier this year, people on Medicare now pay no more than $35 per monthly prescription for insulin.
Free vaccines: Starting earlier this year, vaccines are now free for people on Medicare.
P4ADNow’s advocacy hub is available in Spanish here and in English here.
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P4ADNow Celebra Un Año De Aniversario De La Ley De Reducción De La Inflación Con El Lanzamiento De Herramienta Digital En Español
Pacientes Alrededor Del País Se Sienten Aliviados Por Las Reformas De Los Precios De Los Medicamentos Y Continuarán Pagando Precios Más Bajos En Los Años Que Vienen
WASHINGTON, D.C. — En el primer aniversario de la aprobación de la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación, Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow), marcó el momento con el lanzamiento de una versión en español de su herramienta digital, Es.medicarenegotiation.org. El sitio incluye una explicación y un cronograma de las reformas en los precios de medicamentos de la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación y herramientas para que activistas compartan su historia y tomen acción.
“Patients For Affordable Drugs Now se complace en celebrar el primer aniversario de las provisiones de los precios de medicamentos en la Ley de la Reducción de la Inflación al lanzar nuestro centro de defensa en español,” dijo Merith Basey, directora ejecutiva de Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Los Latinos, muchos de los cuales son hispanohablantes, son desproporcionadamente afectados por los precios altos de los medicamentos y como parte de nuestro compromiso de reducir los precios de los medicamentos, queremos asegurarnos de que más pacientes en todo el país no solo estén al tanto de estas nuevas provisiones, sino que comprendan cómo ellos podrán beneficiarse de ellos ahora y en el futuro”.
Pacientes defensores como Maria Sanchez de Atlanta, Georgia, ya están sintiendo los impactos de la nueva ley. Maria toma la insulina Toujeo para controlar su diabetes. Antes de la Ley de la Reducción de la Inflación, una caja de tres injecciones tenía un precio de $259.
“Ahora, los copagos de la Parte D de Medicare para la insulina tienen un tope de $35 por el suministro de un mes. Este tope de copago para la insulina me ahorrado dinero que puedo usar para comprar alimentos más saludables para mi familia, visitar a mis nietos con más frecuencia o dejar de faltar mis tiras reactivas”, compartió Maria. “Estos ahorros traerán consistencia a mis pagos, mejorarán mi calidad de vida, y me permitirán comprar los medicamentos y suministros de salud que necesito.”
Las reformas pioneras de los precios de medicamentos en la Ley de la Reducción de la Inflación, que se aprobó el 16 de Agosto, 2022, incluyeron:
Negociación de Medicare: Por la primara vez, Medicare debe de negociar los precios de ciertos medicamentos de alto-costo – lo que finalmente deshace la prohibición de casi 20 años de que Medicare use su poder adquisitivo para obtener un mejor trato para las personas en los Estados Unidos.
Frenar el aumento de precios de las compañias farmacéuticas: Por la primera vez, la Ley de la Reducción de la Inflación penalizará a las compañías farmacéuticas por aumentar los precios de los medicamentos más rápido que la tarifa de inflación.
Límites de gastos de bolsillo de la Parte D de Medicare: Por primera vez, habrá un límite anual en la cantidad que las personas con Medicare pagan por las recetas que recogen en la farmacia. En 2025, ese límite se establece en $2,000, cuando en este momento algunas personas pagan más de $15,000 de su bolsillo cada año.
Límite mensual de copago de insulina de $35 para Medicare: A partir de principios de este año, las personas con Medicare ahora no pagan más de $35 por receta mensual de insulina.
Vacunas gratuitas: A partir de principios de este año, las vacunas ahora son gratuitas para las personas con Medicare.
El herramienta digital de P4ADNow está disponible en español aqui y en inglés aqui.
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Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. Report Update: Hiding In Plain Sight
This week, P4AD released a new report update — Hiding in Plain Sight — that examines the intertwined relationships between the drug industry and three groups purporting to represent the interest of patients: The Haystack Project, No Patient Left Behind, and the Community Oncology Alliance. This research is an update to P4AD’s 2021 report, The Hidden Hand, which detailed the financial ties that drug corporations have to patient groups and their resulting influence in blocking legislation to lower drug prices. The key findings of the update to the report clearly connectallthree groups back to drug corporations and trade associations. “Pharma pumps money into physician groups, researchers, academic medical centers, advocacy groups, and the exact funding is almost never disclosed,” said P4AD founder David Mitchell. Both Hiding in Plain Sight and The Hidden Hand are intended as a guide for policymakers, elected officials, and the media to understand how many patient advocacy groups are affiliated with the drug industry. Of note, P4AD accepts no funding from any organization that profits from the development or distribution of prescription drugs. — (P4AD)
2. Momentum For Drug Price Reforms In Senate
There continues to be a growing appetite to advance bipartisan drug price reform in the Senate as members are out on recess. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo spread the word to constituents about bipartisan legislation advanced out of the Finance committee that addresses the lack of transparency within the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry. P4AD’s Sarah Kaminer Bourland spoke to Axios about transparency requirements in the PBM bills: “Sunshine is the best medicine, and we think transparency is worth it, because then we can have at least clear incentives and work to undo some of the perverse ones.” Advocates are also pushing the Senate to pass reforms to our patent and regulatory systems that address Big Pharma’s exploitation and profit scheming. A new study in JAMA found that between 2000-2015, there was a 200 percent increase in patents filed by companies that made minor tweaks to their drugs. This form of patent gaming delays generic drugs from coming to market and leaves patients with no choice but to pay more for costly brand-name drugs. Merck is close to becoming the lead offender of patent abuse for its cancer drug Keytruda. Merck increased Keytruda’s price this year by an extra $200 per dose, even though “nothing meaningful about the drug has changed,” Axios reported. This is unacceptable, shady behavior for an industry that claims its drug prices are tied to innovation. Thankfully, Majority Leader Schumer plans to bring to the floor a health care package that could combine reforms addressing PBMs, promoting competition, and increasing transparency once members return to session in September. It’s time to make sure our drug price system puts patients first! — (KMVT, Axios, JAMA, Axios, Punch Bowl News)
3. The Inflation Reduction Act Brings On The Savings!
Passage of the historic Inflation Reduction Act marks its first anniversary next week and lawmakers and advocates are celebrating how the drug price reforms help patients. A new report from AARP underscores the significance of the inflationary rebates to limit drug price increases to the rate of inflation. The report found that list prices for the top 25 drugs with the highest Medicare spending in 2021 increased by an average of 226 percent since they first came to market. Many of these high-priced drugs listed in the report are anticipated to be considered for the widely supported Medicare negotiation program, which will not only reduce drug costs for patients, “but it will save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars,” Senator Tammy Baldwin explained. The historic drug price law has already delivered significant relief to patients in just one year. Susan from Michigan delayed getting her shingles vaccine “because, as a senior on a fixed income, the $400 copay was cost prohibitive” — but she’s now relieved that the new law eliminates cost sharing for vaccines. Senator Joe Manchin celebrated the huge cost savings for West Virginians from the $35 monthly insulin copay cap and president of Maryland’s Health Care For All, Vinny DeMarco cited the cap as the “number one cost-saver in the state,” providing relief to about 50,000 Marylanders on Medicare. Finally, patients are getting long awaited relief from high drug prices — we look forward to the soon-to-be implemented provisions that will bring even more savings. — (AARP, AARP, Post-Standard, WXOW, Center For American Progress, The Hill, WMDT, The Baltimore Sun)
BONUS: In this edition of Big Pharma’s shady behavior: Drug companies shift profits overseas to low-tax jurisdictions in order to line their coffers with billions of dollars. People in the United States pay some of the highest drug prices in the world and receive “none of the benefits” from the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, reportedBusiness Insider.
Have a great weekend!
Happy 58th Birthday, Medicare! Only 7 more years until you’re eligible for yourself 🥳
Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. The Inflation Reduction Act: Building on Medicare’s Reach To Patients
Medicare celebrated its 58th anniversary this week and patients are applauding the drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act as it builds on the legacy of the monumental program. When marking the anniversary, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Jaime Harrison cited the program’s history as a “critical lifeline” and emphasized how the new drug price law builds on this legacy by “allow[ing] Medicare to negotiate drug prices, cap seniors’ insulin costs at $35 a month, and create a $2,000 yearly cap on seniors’ out-of-pocket drug costs;” Senator Mark Kelly touted the reforms as a huge step towards reining in Big Pharma’s pricing power; and State Director of AARP Oregon, Bandana Shrestha stated that the reforms’ impact on the 66 million people on Medicare will be “immense.” Jean Busby of North Carolina knows the danger of being unable to afford insulin all too well. She’s had to make several emergency room trips due to “dangerously low blood sugar levels” — but now with the $35 monthly insulin copay cap, she won’t have to ration her insulin which will help her better manage her condition. Steve Knievel of Public Citizen emphasized why Medicare negotiation was so long overdue: “It’s obscene. These drug corporations have made — across the board for the first set of drugs that are going to be negotiated — they’ve made tens of billions of dollars already.” It’s true! Blockbuster drugs like Keytruda grew 19 percent in sales as its manufacturer Merck filed a bogus lawsuit to try to block Medicare negotiation. Patients aren’t fooled — we’ll continue to honor Medicare’s anniversary by ensuring taxpayers and patients get a better deal through negotiation. — (DNC, Arizona Republic, Kiowa County Press, NC Newsline, The Hill, Precision Medicine Online)
2. Buildup To September’s Congressional Session
Congress is in recess until September and the pressure is on to advance bipartisan drug price reforms once members return. Before Congress adjourned, the Senate Finance Committee advanced legislation addressing the opaque practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and Chairman Ron Wyden and Ranking Member Mike Crapo previewed that more PBM legislation will be up for votes in the coming months. These PBM reforms are expected to be combined with bipartisan legislative packages that have passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and Senate Commerce committees, Politico reported. Similarly in the House, members across committees are gearing up legislation on drug price transparency and PBM practices to be voted on this September. Reforms addressing competition, PBMs, and transparency could be combined with “must pass” health measures in a bipartisan package when Congress returns in September. Congress: keep up the good work! — (Politico, Axios)
3. Patent Abuse: “Profits At Any Price”
More evidence this week that drug companies game the patent system to extend market exclusivity on drugs and rake in obscene profits. A new study published in JAMA found that the manufacturers of a new class of obesity and diabetes drugs have filed for an average of nearly 20 patents perproduct, securing a median of 18.3 years of market exclusivity after FDA approval for these blockbuster products. “More than half of all patents were obtained on the delivery devices rather than active ingredients,” wrote the authors of the study. This latest example of patent abuse highlights the urgent need for reforms to our patent and regulatory systems. Without reforms that address this issue, drugs will continue to be priced out of reach for patients — like the blockbuster drug Humira. AbbVie blocked any competition to Humira via patent thickets for nearly 20 years and forced patients to pay high, unjustified prices. Dr. Patrick Neustatter wrote in an op-ed, “It is, of course, the job of any company to make money, but today’s mantra seems to be “profits at any price.”” Drug corporations will do anything to maximize their profit margins, even at the expense of patients. We urgently need to fix our rigged patent system to ensure that generic competition can come to market to drive down drug prices! — (Axios, The Free Lance-Star)
BONUS: P4AD submitted comments to the NIH ahead of its workshop Monday, calling on the agency to address the issue of fair pricing for all NIH and taxpayer-funded drugs and make the workshop patient-centered. Worth a read!
Busy week on the hill before recess! In a near-unanimous vote, the Senate Finance Committee advanced bipartisan reforms to increase transparency and accountability of Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) practices. “The move adds to the flurry of activity in both chambers on PBMs, highlighting the interest in both parties in getting changes across the finish line,” Axios reported. In the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Senator Peter Welchshed light on Big Pharma’s abuse of the patent system. “When you have a patent system that can be abused by the patent holders, and they can go beyond the period of exclusivity, it’s brutal on the cost of health care for American employers, to taxpayers, and to private payers,” Welch explained. He used the example of Humira, which has brought AbbVie billions of dollars in profit during its reign as the world’s best-selling drug by obtaining 165 patents on the drug — barring any competition from coming to market. AbbVie’s Humira also illustrates how both patent abuses and PBMs play a role in preventing competition. When competitors finally come to market, PBMs often stand in the way of patients obtaining the more affordable options. PBMs “direct the prescription flow of patients,” Clear Health Costs summarized. “[PBM]s channel patients into higher-priced drugs and away from less expensive drugs. That’s how they get paid more.” Senators, let’s reform our rigged patent system and PBM practices – patients are waiting! — (Axios, WCAX, Clear Health Costs)
2. Debunking Pharma Doublespeak
Big Pharma will stop at nothing to preserve its bottom line and exploitative pricing power. New lawsuits from drug companies are “throwing the kitchen sink” in a desperate attempt to stop Medicare from negotiating lower prices for patients, terrified their profits will suffer under the new law. But pharma earning reports tell a different story. The five largest drug companies reported combined earnings of $81.9 billion in 2022, an increase of $8 billion from 2021, according to new analysis by Accountable.US. Given these billions of dollars in profit made last year, drug company’s claims about damage to their research and development (R&D) expenses sure seem pretty unconvincing. “The drug companies are putting their profits ahead of the affordability of drugs for millions of Americans on Medicare,” wrote Al Norman of Massachusetts. Thankfully, the Medicare negotiation program will rein in high drug pricesand increase access to innovative medicines by considering factors like a drug’s clinical benefit. “The Inflation Reduction Act might incentivize companies to focus more heavily on breakthrough therapies, instead of so-called me-too drugs,” Harvard Professor Ameet Sarpatwari told The New York Times. Big Pharma’s bogus lawsuits and lies about the new law don’t stand a chance – Medicare negotiation will bring relief to patients who have faced unjustified price hikes year after year. — (The New York Times, The Lancet, The Hill, The Fifty Plus Life, Common Dreams)
3. The Inflation Reduction Act: More Savings For Patients
Patients are already feeling relief from the Inflation Reduction Act and will continue to see savings from the soon-to-be implemented provisions. On the Senate floor, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated some of the historic reforms passed last year: “Because of the IRA, vaccines are free for Medicare beneficiaries, and a cap on out-of-pocket drug spending – no senior will pay more than $2,000 a year for drugs – is coming very soon.” A new study published in JAMA found that people on Medicare have filled more insulin prescriptions since the historic drug price law was passed in 2022. The study noted that the $35 monthly insulin copay cap “meaningfully reduced” the number of people on Medicare who were rationing insulin due to cost. For patients like Lawrence, who paid more than $100 per bottle of insulin before 2023, the insulin copay cap brings significant savings. Medicare negotiation is also expected to lower drug prices for patients and reduce the federal deficit by billions of dollars. The negotiation process is “turning the tables on drugmakers,” who set unjustly high drug prices, Leslie Walker discussed on the Tradeoffs podcast. At a town hall, Senator Elizabeth Warren explainedMedicare negotiation, which starts with just ten negotiated drugs for the first round, as the “crack in the wall” of Big Pharma monopoly power. This is just the beginning – we won’t stop until no walls exist between patients and their medications. — (Senate Democrats, Spectrum News 1, Augusta Free Press, Tradeoffs, The Berkshire Eagle)
1. Medicare Negotiation: Popular Provisions That Will Bring Relief
In the latest attack on the Medicare negotiation law, this week Johnson & Johnson (J&J) joined the list of drug companies and trade groups filing bogus lawsuits. Clearly, J&J is scrambling to protect its bottom line, since its blockbuster blood thinner Xarelto may be selected for the first round of negotiation. But patients aren’t fooled! A poll released this week by Navigator Research reported that voters overwhelmingly support the drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act, with 81 percent supporting the provision giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices. The Center For American Progress (CAP) released a new analysis that highlights how Medicare negotiation will specifically help women, Black and Latino people, LGBTQI+ people, and disabled people. The report explains that Black and Latino people on Medicare are nearly two times more likely not to fill a prescription due to cost, and the Inflation Reduction Act will provide tangible relief. Patients aren’t the only ones benefiting from the Medicare negotiation program. At a press conference organized by Protect Our Care and Opportunity Wisconsin, Rep. Gwen Moore explained: “Not only does the Inflation Reduction Act provide affordable medications to people, but it actually reduces the deficit by billions, hundreds of billions of dollars.” With billions of dollars of savings at play, no wonder drug companies are pleading with the courts to preserve their bottom line. — (Navigator Research, Center For American Progress, Up North News)
2. Momentum Builds On PBM Reforms
As Senate Majority Leader Schumer works on a health package to lower drug prices, momentum continues to build for Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform. The Senate Finance Committee announced a markup of PBM legislation next week on July 26. Senators Tom Carper and Chuck Grassley introduced new legislation, the PBM Oversight Act of 2023, that would empower the federal government to increase oversight over PBMs’ practices. In the House, the Education and Workforce Committee passed a bipartisan package last week that included reforms to increase PBM transparency. Clearly, reforming PBMs is a priority in both chambers and across the aisle! The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a unanimous vote this week walkingback its previous stance against PBM transparency. The writing is on the wall: PBMs can no longer hide behind trade secrets and proprietary data. It’s high time to shed light on the middlemen’s practices and it’s evident that bipartisan support for reforms has never been stronger. — (Axios, The Hill, Bloomberg Law)
3. Continuing The Push For Competition
Following lastweek’slaunch of the “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices,” P4ADNow is continuing to spread the word about the ways that Big Pharma abuses the system and why we urgently need the Senate to pass reforms. Through a social media campaign, P4ADNow is breaking down how drug corporations exploit the patent and regulatory systems with tactics like pay-for-delay deals, product hopping, and patent thickets to maintain their monopolies. Humira, the poster child for patent abuse, finally has competition after years of market exclusivity due to a combination of anti-competitive tactics. Humira’s competitors have the potential to drive lower drug prices to the market and provide relief to patients who’ve faced unjustified, high drug prices. “The introduction of seven alternatives to AbbVie Inc.‘s blockbuster drug Humira in July will be the most important test to date on whether market competition can bring down what patients pay for expensive biologics,”reported Bloomberg Law. While we wait to see how Humira biosimilars play out, we urgently call on the Senate to pass reforms that foster competition and crack down on abuse of the patent and regulatory systems to ensure they are serving patients first, instead of padding the pockets of Big Pharma. — (P4ADNow, NPR, Bloomberg Law)
BONUS: It’s been almost a year since the Inflation Reduction Act passed and despite Big Pharma fear mongering, drug companies seem to be doing just fine! This week, Novartis announced a $15 billion share buyback and J&J published its quarterly earnings, which increased 6.3% for a total of $25.5 billion in sales. What was that about not enough money for R&D? 👀
Have a great weekend!
Special Edition! All About The:
Welcome to the Week in Review.
ICYMI, Senate Majority Leader Schumer sent a Dear Colleague letter indicating his intention to advance bipartisan bills to lower drug costs during the July work period. Then on Thursday, we launched the “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices,” calling on the Senate to immediately pass bipartisan drug price competition reforms. Here’s a recap:
Press Conference On The Hill 🎤
Senator Klobuchar, patients, AARP, Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow), and SPACEs in Action launched the “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices” with a pressconference on Capitol Hill. The event focused on the burden of high drug prices on patients and the need to pass legislation that cracks down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices. “Sky-high prices have kept prescription medications out of reach for far too many Americans. By passing legislation to address the anti-competitive tactics that big pharma uses to keep drug prices high, we will enable more competition and innovation in the pharmaceutical market and lower costs for patients,” said Senator Klobuchar, who has been a champion in the fight to lower drug prices. Jacqueline Garibay, 22-year-old student who lives with ankylosing spondylitis from Austin, Texas shared how Amgen has used shady actions to keep biologic drugs at high prices: “Big Pharma is abusing the system and taking advantage of patients by preventing competition for life-saving drugs to protect its bottom line – people like me have no choice but to pay whatever price the companies set,” she continued. “It’s time to put patients’ lives ahead of drug industry profits.”
Letter To The Senate From 35 Orgs 📝
The morning of the press conference, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions, and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate calling for passage of bipartisan bills that lower drug prices through increased competition. The letter, lead by P4ADNow and AARP, urges the Senate to pass reforms that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices, such as “pay-for-delay” deals and product hopping, and close regulatory loopholes, like the abuse of the citizen petition process, to promote generic and biosimilar competition to lower drug prices for patients. The Senate has a real opportunity to advance reforms to “promote competition, accountability, and transparency that will lower drug prices for patients, payers, and taxpayers.” It’s time to get it done.
Advocacy Campaign Launched 🚀
As part of the kickoff, P4ADNow launched new digital ads and an advocacy hub all about promoting competition to lower drug prices. The advocacy hub includes a breakdown of the legislation, first hand stories of how Big Pharma’s abuses hurts patients, and tools to help advocates write letters urging their Senators to pass a package that includes bipartisan bills that promote generic and biosimilar competition to lower drug prices. Check out an example of a new digital ad running below:
BONUS: Speaking of Big Pharma patent abuse, did you see that John Green called out Johnson & Johnson for seeking secondary patents on tuberculosis drug bedaquiline to maintain its monopoly on the drug? This shady move denies millions of people access to the drug. Worth a watch (plus follow the conversation on #patientsoverpatents, which has been trending on Twitter)!
Have a great weekend!
Senators, Patients, AARP, P4ADNow, and SPACEs in Action Launch Push At Press Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Klobuchar, patients, AARP, Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow), and SPACEs in Action launched the “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices” with a press conference on Capitol Hill today. To kick off the push, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate calling for immediate passage of bipartisan bills that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices and close regulatory loopholes to promote generic and biosimilar competition to lower drug prices for patients.
“Right now, drug companies abuse our system through anti-competitive practices that extend monopolies beyond the time intended under law, leaving patients in this country paying more than three times what other wealthy nations pay for the exact same brand name drugs,” 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. “The Senate has the chance to pass a package of bipartisan bills that will reform and improve our patent and regulatory systems to encourage earlier market entry of more affordable generics and biosimilars. These are common sense, bipartisan solutions that will deliver real relief to patients through lower drug prices. We urge the Senate to act now.”
As part of the kickoff, today P4ADNow also launched new digital ads and an advocacy hub for people to urge their Senators to pass a package that includes bipartisan bills that promote generic and biosimilar competition to lower drug prices.
This press conference took place following Majority Leader Schumer’s Dear Colleague letter indicating his intention to advance bipartisan bills to lower drug costs during the July work period. The package includes reforms voted out of the Senate HELP, Judiciary, and Commerce Committees on a strong bipartisan basis earlier this year.
The following are quotes from the speakers at today’s press conference:
“Sky-high prices have kept prescription medications out of reach for far too many Americans. By passing legislation to address the anti-competitive tactics that big pharma uses to keep drug prices high, we will enable more competition and innovation in the pharmaceutical market and lower costs for patients,” said Senator Klobuchar. “I’ll keep working to ensure all Americans can get the life-saving medications they need at prices they can afford.”
“Americans can’t afford to pay more than 3 times what people in other countries pay for the same medicine,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer. “Generic drugs have proven to be one of the safest and most effective ways to ensure that millions of older Americans can afford the prescription drugs they need. Now is the time for Congress to increase competition and help lower drug prices.”
“Lowering drug prices will increase the quality of life for many people like me across this country. We are urgently calling on the Senate to immediately advance and pass the bipartisan bills to lower drug prices.” – Arthur Blair, Board Member, SPACES in Action
“Big Pharma is abusing the system and taking advantage of patients by preventing competition for life-saving drugs to protect its bottom line – people like me have no choice but to pay whatever price the companies set…It’s time to put patients’ lives ahead of drug industry profits.” – Jacqueline Garibay, 22-year-old ankylosing spondylitis patient from Austin, TX
A recording of the event can be viewed here, and photos are available upon request.
