Sa’Ra Skipper and her sister both depend on insulin to treat their Type 1 diabetes. Like them, many other Americans are forced to ration their insulin. Rationing insulin almost cost Sa’Ra’s sister her life.[1] This is because companies like Eli Lilly charge sky-high prices for insulin, year after year.[2]

During the first presidential debate, Donald Trump suggested that insulin is “so cheap it’s like water.”[3] I don’t know what kind of water Trump is drinking, but insulin costs $275 per vial.

Tonight, as Trump and Biden hold dueling town halls in place of the second debate, it’s important to set the facts straight:

While Americans are putting their lives at risk by rationing insulin, Donald Trump appointed a former top executive from Eli Lilly to head the Department of Health and Human Services[4], leaving a member of the insulin cartel in charge of the agency with the most power to control drug prices.

Donald Trump wants Americans to believe his lie about insulin prices. His words are an insult to those who have died from high insulin costs, like 26-year-old Alec Smith of Minnesota.[5] Trump is ignoring these deaths for his own political gain, just as he ignores the people who have died from COVID-19.[6]

Much like the worst outcomes of the COVID-19 response, the deaths from insulin rationing are preventable. There are solutions that could ensure no American dies from insulin rationing. The discoverers of insulin sold their patent for one dollar, almost one hundred years ago.[7] Insulin shouldn’t be that expensive!

ADD YOUR NAME: Donald Trump must stop lying to the American people about insulin prices and act!

There’s a better way. The U.S. government should use the full power of compulsory licensing to ensure that all Americans have access to essential medicines, especially insulin.[8]

Compulsory licenses call for a reasonable royalty to be paid to the patent holder, instead of the exorbitant monopoly-fueled markup Americans are currently paying. If insulin were manufactured through compulsory licensing, it would be much cheaper for people who rely on it, and pharmaceutical companies would still be compensated. Two federal statutes already give the government full legal rights to use this power.[9]

Donald Trump, nothing is stopping you from using compulsory licensing to make insulin accessible for every American who needs it. Instead, you have chosen to appoint a member of the insulin cartel to your Cabinet, and lie to the American people about insulin prices. Shame on you. Stop misleading the American people, and do something today to actually bring down the crushingly unfair price of insulin.

Tell Donald Trump: Stop ignoring insulin rationing deaths and bring costs down instead!

Thanks,

Alex Lawson

Drug Prices Are Too High