The Week in Review in Prescription Drug Pricing

The Senate is back in D.C. and patients are bringing the heat to pass reforms! Here’s to lower temperatures and lower drug prices.

Welcome to the Week in Review.

1.  P4ADNow Launches New Ads To Push For Competition First 10 Drugs Eligible For Negotiation Announced

• P4ADNow launched a six-figure ad campaign this week as the Senate returned from August recess. The campaign includes two video ads, running on digital and TV platforms in Washington D.C., which feature patients urgently calling on the Senate to pass a bipartisan package of bills to curb Big Pharma abuse and ensure competition to lower drug prices. In one ad, Jacqueline Garibay, a college student from Austin, Texas, shares her experience living with ankylosing spondylitis — an autoimmune disorder that affects most of her major joints. “The last time we had to buy my medication, I decided to forgo it. We just couldn’t afford $6,000 a month,” says Jacqueline in the TV ad. The second ad features Lisa McRipley, a Richmond, Texas patient who is on Medicare and lives with multiple sclerosis. Lisa explains in the video what it’s like to pay $7,500 a month for her medication: “But without it, my disease will progress irreversibly – I could lose my independence solely because of outrageous drug prices.” The campaign also includes digital ads as well as grassroots advocacy in ten states, thanking twelve senators for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring passage of a bipartisan package to boost competition. Patient advocates are sending a clear message to the Senate: Lowering drug prices through curbs to anti-competitive practices and timely generic competition is crucial to patients who face some of the highest prices in the world. — (P4AD, Endpoints, Bloomberg Government, The Washington Post, The New York Times, New York Amsterdam News)

 2.  Overwhelming Support For The Inflation Reduction Act

• Drug price advocates and elected officials continued to spread the word about the historic drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act this week. P4AD’s David Mitchell joined a roundtable with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on the savings anticipated from Medicare negotiation. David also joined a press event with Senator Peter Welch and Families USA to celebrate the landmark announcement of the first ten drugs eligible for negotiation. P4AD’s Merith Basey explained in an interview that because the drugs eligible for negotiation are some of the most expensive for patients on Medicare, the expected savings will be substantial. “I’m thinking of a patient in Glenville who stopped taking Januvia and Jardiance because of the high cost,” wrote Senator Amy Klobuchar in an op-ed. “A lower price could be game-changing for his health and reduce his expenses.” The widely supported Medicare price negotiation program will rein in Big Pharma abuses that harm patients. While drug companies are crying wolf that revenue and innovation are at risk with Medicare negotiation, we know the truth: Big Pharma will still enjoy huge profit margins while taxpayers are the ones who fund the majority of basic development leading to new drugs. “IRA will stimulate innovation,” David explained. “This will force [drug companies] to bring better drugs, innovative drugs, to market so they can charge higher prices for them.” — (Loudoun Times, WAMC, Yes! Magazine, Cape Charles Mirror, Southern Minnesota, YouGov, Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, pharmaphorum)

3. Financial Burden Of High Drug Prices

• The high price of drugs forces patients to ration or even forgo their medications, reported Emma Bardin of Medcity News. Non-adherence to medication can not only worsen health complications but also represents a financial burden on the health care system, costing between $100 billion and $290 billion every year, according to a review of studies by Annals of Internal Medicine (AIM). “Financial toxicity, a term used to describe financial problems and stress caused by medical costs, affects anywhere from 15% to 65% of patients,” Dr. Fumiko Chino of Memorial Sloan Kettering told Cure Today. We know that one in four Americans struggle with affording their prescription drugs due to high cost — and we won’t stop fighting to lower drug prices until reforms are extended to all patients. — (Medcity News, Medpage Today, Cure Today)

Have a great weekend! 

Digital Ads And Iowans Call On Senators Ernst And Grassley To Pass Bipartisan Legislation To Curb Big Pharma Abusive Monopolies And Boost Lower Cost Generic Competition

IOWA — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow) launched new ads in Iowa today as part of its “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices.” The campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy, through which Iowans thank Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring the passage of a package of bipartisan bills that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices and promote generic and biosimilar competition.

“Now that the Senate is back from recess, Senators Ernst and Grassley have a real opportunity to advance common sense solutions that will deliver relief to Iowan patients through lower drug prices,” 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. “It’s time to curb drug companies’ abuse – through anti-competitive practices that extend monopolies beyond the time intended under law – and allow our system to work, with timely generic and biosimilar competition in the marketplace to lower prices. We urge Senators Ernst and Grassley to act now.”

Below are examples of digital ads running in Iowa:

The campaign also includes TV video ads running in Washington, D.C. that feature two patients who are forced to struggle with the high prices of their prescription drugs and urgently call on the Senate to pass the bipartisan competition bill package.

In addition to Iowa, P4ADNow’s campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy in nine additional states, thanking the following senators for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring competition: Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rick Scott (FL), Mike Braun (IN), Bill Cassidy (LA), Susan Collins (ME), Josh Hawley (MO), Kevin Cramer (ND), John Cornyn (TX), Ted Cruz (TX), and Mike Lee (UT).

Over the summer, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate to pass bipartisan patent and regulatory reforms that curb abuses and allow greater competition to lower drug prices. This campaign builds on this momentum by urging Senators Ernst and Grassley to pass legislation to lower drug prices for patients.

###

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is the only national patient advocacy organization that focuses exclusively on system-changing policies to lower drug prices. P4ADNow is independent, bipartisan and does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.

Digital Ads And Missourians Call On Senator Hawley To Pass Bipartisan Legislation To Curb Big Pharma Abusive Monopolies And Boost Lower Cost Generic Competition

MISSOURI — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow) launched new ads in Missouri today as part of its “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices.” The campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy, through which Missourians thank Senator Josh Hawley for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring the passage of a package of bipartisan bills that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices and promote generic and biosimilar competition.

“Now that the Senate is back from recess, Senator Hawley has a real opportunity to advance common sense solutions that will deliver relief to Missourian patients through lower drug prices,” 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. “It’s time to curb drug companies’ abuse – through anti-competitive practices that extend monopolies beyond the time intended under law – and allow our system to work, with timely generic and biosimilar competition in the marketplace to lower prices. We urge Senator Hawley to act now.”

Below is an example of a digital ad running in Missouri:

The campaign also includes TV video ads running in Washington, D.C. that feature two patients who are forced to struggle with the high prices of their prescription drugs and urgently call on the Senate to pass the bipartisan competition bill package. 

In addition to Missouri, P4ADNow’s campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy in nine additional states, thanking the following senators for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring competition: Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rick Scott (FL), Chuck Grassley (IA), Joni Ernst (IA), Mike Braun (IN), Bill Cassidy (LA), Susan Collins (ME), Kevin Cramer (ND), John Cornyn (TX), Ted Cruz (TX), and Mike Lee (UT).

Over the summer, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate to pass bipartisan patent and regulatory reforms that curb abuses and allow greater competition to lower drug prices. This campaign builds on this momentum by urging Senator Hawley to pass legislation to lower drug prices for patients.

###

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is the only national patient advocacy organization that focuses exclusively on system-changing policies to lower drug prices. P4ADNow is independent, bipartisan and does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.

Digital Ads And Mainers Call On Senator Collins To Pass Bipartisan Legislation To Curb Big Pharma Abusive Monopolies And Boost Lower Cost Generic Competition 

MAINE — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow) launched new ads in Maine today as part of its “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices.” The campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy, through which Mainers thank Senator Susan Collins for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring the passage of a package of bipartisan bills that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices and promote generic and biosimilar competition. 

“Now that the Senate is back from recess, Senator Collins has a real opportunity to advance common sense solutions that will deliver relief to Mainer patients through lower drug prices,” 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. “It’s time to curb drug companies’ abuse – through anti-competitive practices that extend monopolies beyond the time intended under law – and allow our system to work, with timely generic and biosimilar competition in the marketplace to lower prices. We urge Senator Collins to act now.”

Below is an example of a digital ad running in Maine: 

The campaign also includes TV video ads running in Washington, D.C. that feature two patients who are forced to struggle with the high prices of their prescription drugs and urgently call on the Senate to pass the bipartisan competition bill package.  

In addition to Maine, P4ADNow’s campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy in nine additional states, thanking the following senators for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring competition: Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rick Scott (FL), Chuck Grassley (IA), Joni Ernst (IA), Mike Braun (IN), Bill Cassidy (LA), Josh Hawley (MO), Kevin Cramer (ND), John Cornyn (TX), Ted Cruz (TX), and Mike Lee (UT).

Over the summer, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate to pass bipartisan patent and regulatory reforms that curb abuses and allow greater competition to lower drug prices. This campaign builds on this momentum by urging Senator Collins to pass legislation to lower drug prices for patients.

###

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is the only national patient advocacy organization that focuses exclusively on system-changing policies to lower drug prices. P4ADNow is independent, bipartisan and does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.

Digital Ads And Alaskans Call On Senator Murkowski To Pass Bipartisan Legislation To Curb Big Pharma Abusive Monopolies And Boost Lower Cost Generic Competition

ALASKA — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow) launched new ads in Alaska today as part of its “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices.” The campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy, through which Alaskans thank Senator Lisa Murkowski for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring the passage of a package of bipartisan bills that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices and promote generic and biosimilar competition.

“Now that the Senate is back from recess, Senator Murkowski has a real opportunity to advance common sense solutions that will deliver relief to Alaskan patients through lower drug prices,” 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. “It’s time to curb drug companies’ abuse – through anti-competitive practices that extend monopolies beyond the time intended under law – and allow our system to work, with timely generic and biosimilar competition in the marketplace to lower prices. We urge Senator Murkowski to act now.”

Below is an example of a digital ad running in Alaska:

The campaign also includes TV video ads running in Washington, D.C. that feature two patients who are forced to struggle with the high prices of their prescription drugs and urgently call on the Senate to pass the bipartisan competition bill package.

In addition to Alaska, P4ADNow’s campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy in nine additional states, thanking the following senators for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring competition: Rick Scott (FL), Chuck Grassley (IA), Joni Ernst (IA), Mike Braun (IN), Bill Cassidy (LA), Susan Collins (ME), Josh Hawley (MO), Kevin Cramer (ND), John Cornyn (TX), Ted Cruz (TX), and Mike Lee (UT).

Over the summer, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate to pass bipartisan patent and regulatory reforms that curb abuses and allow greater competition to lower drug prices. This campaign builds on this momentum by urging Senator Murkowski to pass legislation to lower drug prices for patients.

###

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is the only national patient advocacy organization that focuses exclusively on system-changing policies to lower drug prices. P4ADNow is independent, bipartisan and does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.

Digital Ads And People In Utah Call On Senator Lee To Pass Bipartisan Legislation To Curb Big Pharma Abusive Monopolies And Boost Lower Cost Generic Competition

UTAH — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow) launched new ads in Utah today as part of its “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices.” The campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy, through which people in Utah thank Senator Mike Lee for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring the passage of a package of bipartisan bills that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices and promote generic and biosimilar competition. 

“Now that the Senate is back from recess, Senator Lee has a real opportunity to advance common sense solutions that will deliver relief to patients in Utah through lower drug prices,” 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. “It’s time to curb drug companies’ abuse – through anti-competitive practices that extend monopolies beyond the time intended under law – and allow our system to work, with timely generic and biosimilar competition in the marketplace to lower prices. We urge Senator Lee to act now.”

Below is an example of a digital ad running in Utah: 

The campaign also includes TV video ads running in Washington, D.C. that feature two patients who are forced to struggle with the high prices of their prescription drugs and urgently call on the Senate to pass the bipartisan competition bill package.  

In addition to Utah, P4ADNow’s campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy in nine additional states, thanking the following senators for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring competition: Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rick Scott (FL), Chuck Grassley (IA), Joni Ernst (IA), Mike Braun (IN), Bill Cassidy (LA), Susan Collins (ME), Josh Hawley (MO), Kevin Cramer (ND), John Cornyn (TX), and Ted Cruz (TX).

Over the summer, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate to pass bipartisan patent and regulatory reforms that curb abuses and allow greater competition to lower drug prices. This campaign builds on this momentum by urging Senator Lee to pass legislation to lower drug prices for patients.

###

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is the only national patient advocacy organization that focuses exclusively on system-changing policies to lower drug prices. P4ADNow is independent, bipartisan and does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.

Digital Ads And Louisianians Call On Senator Cassidy To Pass Bipartisan Legislation To Curb Big Pharma Abusive Monopolies And Boost Lower Cost Generic Competition 

LOUISIANA — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow) launched new ads in Louisiana today as part of its “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices.” The campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy, through which Louisianians thank Senator Bill Cassidy for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring the passage of a package of bipartisan bills that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices and promote generic and biosimilar competition. 

“Now that the Senate is back from recess, Senator Cassidy has a real opportunity to advance common sense solutions that will deliver relief to Louisianian patients through lower drug prices,” 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. “It’s time to curb drug companies’ abuse – through anti-competitive practices that extend monopolies beyond the time intended under law – and allow our system to work, with timely generic and biosimilar competition in the marketplace to lower prices. We urge Senator Cassidy to act now.”

Below is an example of a digital ad running in Louisiana: 

The campaign also includes TV video ads running in Washington, D.C. that feature two patients who are forced to struggle with the high prices of their prescription drugs and urgently call on the Senate to pass the bipartisan competition bill package.  

In addition to Louisiana, P4ADNow’s campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy in nine additional states, thanking the following senators for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring competition: Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rick Scott (FL), Chuck Grassley (IA), Joni Ernst (IA), Mike Braun (IN), Susan Collins (ME), Josh Hawley (MO), Kevin Cramer (ND), John Cornyn (TX), Ted Cruz (TX), and Mike Lee (UT).

Over the summer, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate to pass bipartisan patent and regulatory reforms that curb abuses and allow greater competition to lower drug prices. This campaign builds on this momentum by urging Senator Cassidy to pass legislation to lower drug prices for patients.

###

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is the only national patient advocacy organization that focuses exclusively on system-changing policies to lower drug prices. P4ADNow is independent, bipartisan and does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.

Digital Ads And North Dakotans Call On Senator Cramer To Pass Bipartisan Legislation To Curb Big Pharma Abusive Monopolies And Boost Lower Cost Generic Competition

NORTH DAKOTA — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow) launched new ads in North Dakota today as part of its “Push For Competition To Lower Drug Prices.” The campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy, through which North Dakotans thank Senator Kevin Cramer for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring the passage of a package of bipartisan bills that crack down on the drug industry’s anti-competitive practices and promote generic and biosimilar competition.

“Now that the Senate is back from recess, Senator Cramer has a real opportunity to advance common sense solutions that will deliver relief to North Dakotan patients through lower drug prices,” 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. “It’s time to curb drug companies’ abuse – through anti-competitive practices that extend monopolies beyond the time intended under law – and allow our system to work, with timely generic and biosimilar competition in the marketplace to lower prices. We urge Senator Cramer to act now.”

Below is an example of a digital ad running in North Dakota:

The campaign also includes TV video ads running in Washington, D.C. that feature two patients who are forced to struggle with the high prices of their prescription drugs and urgently call on the Senate to pass the bipartisan competition bill package. 

In addition to North Dakota, P4ADNow’s campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy in nine additional states, thanking the following senators for fighting to lower drug prices by ensuring competition: Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rick Scott (FL), Chuck Grassley (IA), Joni Ernst (IA), Mike Braun (IN), Bill Cassidy (LA), Susan Collins (ME), Josh Hawley (MO), John Cornyn (TX), Ted Cruz (TX), and Mike Lee (UT).

Over the summer, 35 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, churches, students, unions and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate to pass bipartisan patent and regulatory reforms that curb abuses and allow greater competition to lower drug prices. This campaign builds on this momentum by urging Senator Cramer to pass legislation to lower drug prices for patients.

###

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is the only national patient advocacy organization that focuses exclusively on system-changing policies to lower drug prices. P4ADNow is independent, bipartisan and does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.