Today CSRxP released the following statement from Executive Director John Rother, following PhRMA’s announcement of a multimillion-dollar public relations campaign:
“Today Big Pharma launched a $100 million advertising campaign to make Americans forget about their price gouging. That’s nothing new: Big Pharma spends more on advertising than they do on actual research. But no amount of advertising will make hardworking families forget the consequences of their out-of-control drug costs. They feel the impact every time they choose between paying bills, buying groceries, or refilling a medication they need to stay healthy.”
Examples of massive price hikes by PhRMA members:
Hypertension
According to the CDC, about 75 million American adults (29%) have high blood pressure and only half have their condition under control.
Diabetes
Rising insulin prices are placing a financial hardship on patients and have become the subject of extensive news coverage. According to the CDC, more than 29 million Americans have diabetes.
High Cholesterol
According to the CDC, more than 102 million Americans 20 years or older have total cholesterol levels above healthy levels.
Sources:
*MedicaidDrug Spending Dashboard 2015
** Medicare Drug Spending Dashboard 2015
^ Bloomberg Database – Drug Prices Soar for Top-Selling Brands