State lawmakers around the country are hearing from people in their communities who spend thousands of dollars every year on insulin, and from people whose loved ones have died because they couldn’t afford the insulin they needed. These legislators want to act, but Big Pharma’s greed is standing in their way.

Volunteer advocates are facing off against industry lobbyists in state legislatures, sharing their stories about crushing insulin prices. In 2018 and 2019, Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt spoke to lawmakers in Minnesota about the tragic death of their son, Alec Smith. Alec died at age 26 in 2017 while trying to pay for his insulin out of his own pocket, because his job didn’t offer health insurance.

As the Minnesota legislature debated action, Big Pharma redoubled its lobbying efforts in the state. As NBC News reports: “In 2019, Novo Nordisk, which hadn't done any lobbying in Minnesota the year before, spent $120,000, state records show. PhRMA spent $430,000 on lobbying in 2019, state records show, about double the usual amount.”¹

After legislators acted, the drug industry group PhRMA sued to stop the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act before it could take effect.

ADD YOUR NAME: Shame on Big Pharma for waging war on affordable insulin!

The scientists who discovered insulin sold their patent for one dollar.² Insulin costs less than $10 a vial to produce.³ There’s only one simple reason high insulin prices are wrecking the finances and lives of Americans: greed.

Big Pharma apparently believes it can use its lobbying muscles to bully states into submission. Big Pharma is picking off state legislative efforts one by one, forcing legislators to bend to their will. They’ll do whatever it takes to stop state action against high insulin prices. To beat Big Pharma at its own game, it’s going to take a movement. It’s going to take action from Congress.

It’s time to force Big Pharma’s hand on insulin prices. Congress must ensure that every American who needs insulin can get it. It’s time for the U.S. government to produce insulin directly and take greed out of the lifesaving process.

Tell Congress: Listen to the Americans who have lost loved ones to Big Pharma’s inexcusable insulin prices!

Thanks,

Alex Lawson
Drug Prices Are Too High