July 06, 2021

New Report Details Patient Advocacy Groups’ Reliance on Big Pharma Donations

An explosive new report by Patients For Affordable Drugs found that fifteen prominent patient advocacy groups, including groups that focus on specific diseases or conditions, have taken millions of dollars from drug corporations and pharmaceutical trade associations.

The report also found that none of the 15 groups they examined supported allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. All but one failed to fully disclose the total funding they received from the pharmaceutical industry and 12 have pharmaceutical industry representatives on their boards.

The report authors said their research “raises serious questions as to whether (the groups) are constrained from advocating for patients on issues that would hurt the profits of their industry funders.”

“The pharmaceutical industry will go to any length to protect its profits and keep drug prices high,” said Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance. “It is no accident that Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. Congress must put patients before profits, and allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices now. We can’t wait any longer.”