{"id":19781,"date":"2024-05-09T16:20:20","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T20:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/?p=19781"},"modified":"2024-06-26T16:49:58","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T20:49:58","slug":"warren-sanders-merkley-slam-chamber-of-commerce-for-opposition-to-biden-administrations-proposal-to-boost-competition-lower-drug-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/es\/warren-sanders-merkley-slam-chamber-of-commerce-for-opposition-to-biden-administrations-proposal-to-boost-competition-lower-drug-prices\/","title":{"rendered":"Warren, Sanders, Merkley Slam Chamber of Commerce for Opposition to Biden Administration\u2019s Proposal to Boost Competition, Lower Drug Prices"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThese efforts are a mistake, and are not consistent with the Chamber\u2019s stated goal of \u2018expand(ing) access to and improv(ing) the affordability of high-quality health care services for all Americans.\u2019 If successful, they will undermine the Biden Administration\u2019s effort to reduce drug prices and insurance premiums, hurting consumers and small and large businesses.\u201d <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Texto de la carta (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington DC -<\/strong> Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) wrote to the Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) expressing concern and demanding an explanation for the organization\u2019s opposition to the Biden Administration\u2019s proposal to boost competition and lower drug prices for American families and businesses by allowing agencies to consider price when deciding to exercise their \u201cmarch-in rights\u201d under the Bayh-Dole Act<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bajo la Bayh-Dole Act<\/em>, the federal government has the ability to step in and re-license patents on drugs and other inventions that were developed using federal funds when they are not \u201cavailable to the public on reasonable terms<\/a>.\u201d The Biden Administration\u2019s proposal would help the vast majority of the Chamber\u2019s members \u2013 from big businesses to small entrepreneurs, all of which, as employers, face higher health insurance costs<\/a> when Big Pharma overcharges for prescription drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cBig Pharma has waged a decades-long war against the law to protect their enormous profits\u2026(The proposal) clarifies that taxpayers have a backstop when drug manufacturers charge extortionate prices for drugs that were developed with public funds,\u201d escribieron los legisladores<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Instead of working to support the thousands of members who stand to benefit from efforts to end drug company profiteering, the Chamber launched the Business Alliance to Stop Innovation Confiscation (BASIC) Coalition, to \u201cstymie the White House\u2019s drug pricing initiatives.\u201d According to reports, this coalition will be \u201cbacked by a seven-figure campaign<\/a> that will include research, polling and digital, grassroots and traditional advocacy efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The federal government spends<\/a> hundreds of billions of dollars to support basic science and pharmaceutical innovations, providing significant benefits to big pharmaceutical manufacturers. But these private drug manufacturers can then turn around and charge exorbitant prices for these publicly-funded products. For example, a course of treatment for Xtandi, a prostate cancer drug sold by Astellas that was developed with significant federal government support, can cost a U.S. consumer<\/a> approximately $150,000 more than a consumer in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawmakers are demanding an explanation from the Chamber for its opposition to the proposal and asking a series of questions about the decision to create the BASIC coalition, the impact of march-in rights and reduced health care prices on their members and small businesses, and how the coalition\u2019s budget will be spent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senator Warren has led the fight for affordable health care and fair practices in the health care industry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n