Pharmaceutical Industry Fights Democrats' Drug Pricing Proposal with Multimillion-Dollar Lobbying Campaign

Strategic Insights -

The pharmaceutical industry's powerful trade group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), has launched a wide-ranging campaign to kill Democrats' sweeping drug price proposal, a crucial tool to reduce high drug prices. For months, PhRMA has spent millions on lobbying and TV ads warning that the proposal would mean politicians deciding which medicines patients can and can't get.

Key Takeaways:

  • PhRMA spent over $22.4 million lobbying on drug pricing and other issues in the first nine months of the year, according to recent disclosure filings.
  • The industry group has targeted several moderate lawmakers who have expressed concerns about the proposal, including Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.).
  • PhRMA has argued that the House Democrats' proposal would cost jobs and slash how much money the industry could spend on research developing new drugs.
  • Behind the scenes, PhRMA president and CEO Stephen Ubl has met with Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, to emphasize the need for "serious measures" to lower costs for patients.
  • The industry group is exploring compromises with lawmakers, including a plan led by Reps. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) that has drawn criticism from other Democrats and the drug industry.
  • PhRMA has hired additional Democratic lobbyists to bolster its efforts, including Eben DuRoss, a former Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee aide.

Statistics:

  • PhRMA spent over $22.4 million on lobbying in the first nine months of the year.
  • The industry group has targeted several moderate lawmakers who have expressed concerns about the proposal.
  • PhRMA argued that the House Democrats' proposal would cost jobs and slash how much money the industry could spend on research developing new drugs.

Sources:

  • Theodoric Meyer and Rachel Roubein, "PhRMA is working furiously to kill Democrats' drug pricing dreams"
  • Disclosure filings from the Center for Responsive Politics
  • Congressional Quarterly, "PhRMA's lobbying efforts behind the scenes"
  • Senate Democratic aide
  • White House press release