Patients For Affordable Drugs

A federal judge in New Jersey ruled against Novo Nordisk’s challenge to Medicare's authority to negotiate lower drug prices on July 31st, marking another win against Big Pharma’s campaign to stop Medicare negotiation. This ruling benefits patients like Kathy from Kalamazoo, Michigan, who struggles with medication costs on a fixed income. With negotiation, a month’s supply of Novolog could drop to $30, making it more affordable for Kathy and millions of people on Medicare.

Jacqueline Garibay of Patients For Affordable Drugs relies on prohibitively expensive biologic treatments like Humira and Enbrel to manage an autoimmune disorder that affects her spine and has spread to most of her major joints. She hopes that new therapies and cures will soon be developed for her condition. But, as she points out, our pharmaceutical system isn’t set up to do that. Instead, “the system is set up to maintain exclusivities and monopolies on existing drugs”.

Jacqueline Garibay of Patients For Affordable Drugs relies on prohibitively expensive biologic treatments like Humira and Enbrel to manage an autoimmune disorder that affects her spine and has spread to most of her major joints. She hopes that new therapies and cures will soon be developed for her condition. But, as she points out, our pharmaceutical system isn’t set up to do that. Instead, “the system is set up to maintain exclusivities and monopolies on existing drugs”.

“If you don’t have unlimited money, you don’t have the ability to get through that [patent] thicket. A patent thicket is not at all what patents are supposed to be for.” Alex Lawson is the Executive Director of Social Security Works. In the video below, Alex explains how branded drugmakers build intellectual property fences known as patent thickets around their drugs to block competitors and keep drug prices sky high.

🆕 Patients, like Kevin, should come before Big Pharma's bottom line. Read Kevin's patient testimony: https://lnkd.in/eK8mGUNq

The House Oversight Committee continued its investigation into pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), patients struggle with soaring drug prices while the pharmaceutical industry continues to demonstrate robust financial health and also continue their fight against Medicare negotiation, and Gilead Sciences is facing backlash over the price of its highly-effective HIV prevention drug Lenacapavi. Read more at our Week in Review: https://lnkd.in/emGfzdaY

🆕 Patients, like Trevor, shouldn't have to avoid purchasing groceries, gasoline, and everyday essentials because of high prescription drug costs. Read Trevor's patient testimony: https://lnkd.in/eFKCjf-P

“These pharmaceutical manufacturers…have abused the U.S. patent system to extend their exclusivities and they keep raising these prices year after year after year.” Jacqueline Garibay is a patient advocate and the Policy and Program Assistant for Patients For Affordable Drugs. She also has an autoimmune disorder that requires her to rely on drugs like Humira and Enbrel. In the video below, Jacqueline explains how patent abuse drives up the prices of the drugs that she needs.

Between June 30th and July 5th, drug companies raised prices on 195 prescription drugs, Drug companies receive final price offers under Medicare's new negotiation program, and lawmakers are intensifying investigations into the predatory practices of the drug industry and PBMs. Read more in Week in Review: https://lnkd.in/ejWRZPFy

The Inflation Reduction Act is a crucial step toward ensuring drug costs are manageable for all and it is already providing relief for patients like Ginny. Are you also seeing savings thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act and Medicare Negotiation? Share your story: https://lnkd.in/ezRxWPQ7