On this journey, if you’re an academic scientist or work in industry, you have likely also learned that public policy and price controls can determine whether there will be funding for your research and your dreams of making a difference in the lives of patients (which is to say, all of us).
You’ve learned that if America continues to be angry about some people not being able to afford new medicines and misdirects some of that anger to call for price controls, then your work might be defunded and never see the light of day.
If you’re a patient or care about someone with a disease who is waiting for their cure, you’ve learned that it’s possible for Congress to pass a counter-productive law (e.g. The IRA’s 9-year pill penalty) that redirects funding away from what you care about.
If you’re human, you have a stake in defending the affordable innovation framework.
And if everyone allocated even 1% of their time and effort to defending innovation and calling for insurance reform, then we could protect this small but vital part of our economy so that it continues to serve all of us. Imagine if millions of Americans knew what you know and were game to speak up by signing a letter to Washington advocating for the biotech social contract, writing a Congressman to advocate for caps to out-of-pocket costs, penning an op-ed for a student newspaper, asking employers why their plans charge sick employees copays for chemo, responding to a journalist who confuses drug pricing by companies versus what insurance makes patients pay, etc.
So now take a moment to consider this question:
Would you be willing to get personally involved, even in a small way, to defend the biotech social contract, protect innovation, and advocate for insurance reform by signing up as an NPLB First Responder so that NPLB can notify you of the work it’s doing and offer ways for you to join in (e.g. Sign letters, repost, speak with policymakers)?
A. Yes, I’m already sign up as an NPLB First Responder
B. Yes, I’ll be sure to sign up (Visit the link above!)
C. No, I don’t want to get involved personally but am glad others are doing this work
D. No, I don’t agree with what NPLB is advocating for