SAN FRANCISCO — A group that’s buying ads to try to elevate the issue of high drug prices in the midterm elections has identified its latest target: a Democratic congresswoman from Silicon Valley who wants to lead on health care issues.
Patients For Affordable Drugs Action will spend $500,000 on ads attacking Rep. Anna Eshoo for her legislative record and for accepting campaign contributions from the drug industry, the group announced Friday. Eshoo is expected to be re-elected easily in November.
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Anna Eshoo is a champion for innovation and her district is in the heart of silicon valley , which is an economy driven by high tech and biotech. These industries create jobs and innovation and, in the case of her biotech constituents, cures for debilitating diseases and medical conditions. As a biotech CEO who supports Rep Eshoo, I can tell you I have attended many events where she has asked ( demanded indeed) our industry to work with congress to battle high costs of healthcare through education and our willingness to promote generic replacements of our expensive branded therapies once they have gone off patent. She is one of few in congress that understands the healthcare industry and seeks ways to improve patients access to medicines. I hope Patients for Affordable Medicines does their homework for her and realize they have an ally, not a foe. We should all work together to make access for all patients a reality and to reduce what patients pay at the pharmacy counter to get their meds. She is willing to do that and work on all sides to get it done.