WASHINGTON DC (November 14, 2018) – Republican and Democratic voters agree. Americans do not want the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) to raise drug prices or decrease competition from more affordable generic or biosimilar medicines.
The Association for Accessible Medicines joined 28 groups representing patients, taxpayers, workers and health care groups in submitting letters to U.S. Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar and congressional leadership. The letters expressed concern that the U.S. Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), if left in its current form, will keep drug prices high and out of reach of Americans.
In addition, a recent poll of Americans shows:
- 84% believe trade policy should lower – not increase – drug prices and
- 81% believe trade policy should increase access to affordable medicine
Nearly 3 out of 4 voters – from across the political spectrum – are concerned that the USMCA would negatively impact drug prices, delay patient access to more affordable generic and biosimilar medicine and impose new barriers to the development of lower-cost medicine.
View the results of the USMCA trade agreement poll.
Finally, AAM created medsforamerica.org to house information for consumers about the new trade agreement and how USMCA would hurt patient access. The site provides easy way to contact one’s member of Congress in just one click. The #FixUSMCA campaign, launched on Monday, has already generated more than 2,000 pageviews and people have sent over 1,000 messages to Congress. To learn more, go to medsforamerica.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rachel Schwartz
202.249.7147 (o)
202.251.8881 (c)
About AAM
AAM is driven by the belief that access to safe, quality, effective medicine has a tremendous impact on a person’s life and the world around them. Generic and biosimilar medicines improve people’s lives, improving society and the economy in turn. AAM represents the manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, manufacturers and distributors of bulk pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the generic industry. Generic pharmaceuticals are 90 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. but only 23 percent of total drug spending.
About the Biosimilars Council
The Biosimilars Council, a division of the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM), works to ensure a positive environment for patient access to biosimilar medicines. The Biosimilars Council is a leading source for information about the safety and efficacy of more affordable alternatives to costly brand biologic medicines. Areas of focus include public and health expert education, strategic partnerships, government affairs, legal affairs and regulatory policy. More information is available at www.biosimilarscouncil.org.