Week in Review: The latest from PhRMA

Stopping opioid abuse – PhRMA and its members stand with patients, providers, law enforcement, policymakers and others in calling for and supporting national policies and action to address opioid abuse. Check out the new policy principles and stay tuned for more about what the biopharmaceutical industry is doing to combat abuse.  

The problem with biopharmaceutical budget caps – A new article in The Economists’ Voice demonstrates how assessing the value of medicines using budget caps can impede patient access and chill biopharmaceutical innovation. Read more about these findings, which highlight why the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review’s (ICER) so-called “value framework” would create a strong bias against medical innovations.

Coverage and access hurdles in 2016 exchange plans – Health care treatments and services can vary significantly by state, with patients in some states facing more access barriers to care than others. To help patients understand what’s covered in their state exchange plans, we released new fact sheets on Access Better Coverage with an in-depth look at coverage and access.

Strong IP fuels innovation – A strong IP system provides security for biopharmaceutical inventors and the assurance that investments in the future will be safe. Learn why patents, data protections and periods of exclusivity are the tools necessary to support future R&D investments and, in turn, the medical discoveries that will save the lives of tomorrow.

Clinical Trials Q&A – In celebration of Clinical Trials Awareness Week, we spoke with Nina Martinez, a patient diagnosed with HIV as a baby, to highlight how volunteering for clinical research provided the science that helped save her life. Read more about her journey.

The era of personalized medicine – Ahead of the Personalized Medicine Coalition’s 12^th Annual State of Personalized Medicine Luncheon on May 25, PhRMA president and CEO Stephen J. Ubl highlights why private and public sector collaborations and the ability to maintain an ecosystem that supports and encourages innovation are key to driving continued progress in personalized medicine.

The role of immunotherapy in cancer care – Innovations in immunotherapy are changing how we fight cancer by improving outcomes and survival rates. Read what stakeholders across the health care system are saying about this innovative set of treatments.

Medicare Monday – We’ve previously highlighted how the proposed Part B model lacks a plan for monitoring and evaluation to ensure patient access and health is not negatively impacted. This week, we looked at how the proposal stacks up against a clinical trial, which follow strict guidelines for review and approval to make sure patients are informed.