WASHINGTON — The latest drug-pricing controversy is going to be more difficult for the industry’s Washington representatives to untangle themselves from. This time, the company in question is a part of the club.
PhRMA, the industry’s top lobbying group, has recently sought to distance its members from perceived bad actors like Turing and Valeant. Rolling out a new ad campaign called “Go Boldly” last month, PhRMA president Stephen Ubl pledged that we would be seeing “less hoodie, more lab coats” from the industry.
PhRMA should not feel bad. They are the ones who bought the legislators to benefit from every corner. Since 1983 when the ODA was passed 5,732 drugs have been requested orphan drug status. 3,986 drugs were given the status and 599 have been approved. In recent years most of them are priced in six digits. Whole idea is to make money and fill their pockets. Poor patient is going to die sooner or later. Who cares if that happens. Normal process of living.
Point is make drugs affordable but not at the expense of patient and their family.