Our Commitment

11/06/2017

R&D Commitment Accessibility & Affordability Advocacy / Policy Innovation Offsets Economic Impact

The Bold Mission of America’s Biopharmaceutical Companies Is to Bring an End to the Burdens of Disease, In All Its Forms.

We are just as committed to making medicines affordable as we are to discovering the treatments and cures that give hope to patients and researchers alike. So that one day, these medical breakthroughs realize their full potential: the ability to save, extend and improve life. For all of us.

At the heart of our commitment are more than 140,000 biopharmaceutical researchers working relentlessly to develop new treatments and cures with the power to transform patients’ lives. Their dedication has already led to breakthroughs in personalized medicine, immuno-oncology and genomics. Research and development (R&D) is the lifeblood of innovation, and with nearly 7,000 medicines in development globally, our commitment fuels the new era of medicine.

America’s Biopharmaceutical Companies invested $71.4 billion in 2017 in the search for new treatments and cures. To be eligible for membership in our association, companies must invest at least $200 million and 10 percent of sales, on a three-year global average, in R&D. Most member companies far exceed this threshold.

The work of thousands saves the lives of millions.

We champion moving to a health care system based on real value for patients. As part of our broader public policy agenda, biopharmaceutical companies are partnering with insurers to develop innovative and flexible ways to pay for medicines that focus on better results for patients, lower out-of-pocket costs and enable patients to access the right treatments their first time. These new partnerships, as well as the latest payment models, are critical to the success of our mission.

Too often patients have to fight for access to breakthrough medicines. Americans increasingly face higher out-of-pocket costs in their insurance plans, particularly for innovative prescription medicines. For patients struggling to access their medicines, many biopharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs available through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), which has helped nearly 10 million people get their prescription medicines for free or nearly free. But this isn’t enough. Biopharmaceutical companies, insurers and even patients all play a role in establishing and supporting a system that allows the greatest innovations to benefit the greatest number of lives.

By pioneering and advocating the latest innovations for people everywhere, we continue to go boldly, together.