Policies We Believe In

Promote Marketplace Competition and Lower Cost Generics 

Bring generic drugs to market faster. Generic and biosimilar drugs are the bedrock of competition to lower the cost of drugs. But the patent and drug approval systems wrongly allow big pharmaceutical companies to hold on to drug monopolies beyond the law’s original patent term. To break those monopolies, among other policies, we must reform the patent system to (1) prevent granting patents for drugs that do not deserve them because they are not inventive and are used to extend drug company monopolies, often called “evergreening,” and (2) make it illegal for brand-name drug companies to make settlements with generic drug companies, often called “pay-for-delay,” that delays the launching of less expensive generic or biosimilar versions. 

Expand Safe Prescription Drug Importation. 

Expand safe prescription drug importation. The top-selling patented, brand-name drugs cost about 75% less in other high-income countries. That is unfair to Americans. Big Pharma says drugs in other countries are dangerous. Ridiculous. The exact same or equally safe and effective foreign versions of FDA-approved drugs are sold in other countries. Expressly permitting personal prescription drug importation in the short-term and allowing commercial-scale importation in the longer term – beyond Canada – will lead to drug price parity with America's allied trading partners. 

End the nightmare of high insulin prices 

End the nightmare of high insulin prices by maxing out-of-pocket insulin costs to $35/month. We can no longer tolerate the rationing of insulin and deaths when people can’t afford it. Over the past 20 years, drug companies have viscously taken advantage of the U.S. drug approval and patent systems when it comes to insulin, which was patented about 100 years ago. Facing the threat of legislation to stop the, the big three insulin drug companies have unilaterally lowered their prices already. That’s great but we don’t trust them: Congress must pass legislation so that no one is forced to pay over $35 per month, just like in Medicare.