The Catalyst
Most Recent Posts
PhRMA Conversations: Address Health Care Challenges Through Unique Ideas and Perspectives
06.18.13 | By John Castellani
Inventor Thomas Edison once said, “If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.” As President and CEO at PhRMA, I have the opportunity to work closely with all members of the health care ecosystem on issues ranging from medical innovation to Medicare. Read more.
New Coalition Seeks to Level the Playing Field for U.S. Businesses Competing in India
06.18.13 | By Jay Taylor
A new alliance was launched today to begin educating the public and policymakers about the growing imbalance with the United States’ trading relationship with India and the potential consequences for American job losses if these concerns are not addressed. Read more.
Week in Review: Preserving What Works
06.14.13 | By Kaelan Hollon
The first step toward finding solutions in our health care ecosystem is to identify what works, protect what is successful and fix what isn’t. This includes access to medicines, continued research and development and developing programs that get patients the treatments they need. Read more.
Castellani Highlights Part D's Success in Hill Blog
06.14.13 | By Liz Magsig
Craving some health policy news on a Friday afternoon? Check out an op-ed that ran in The Hill today from our CEO, John Castellani, on Part D. He discusses Part D’s remarkable track record, and calls out a brand new study on the off-setting power of Part D for beneficiaries with congestive heart failure (CHF). Read more.
Two Key Steps in Elevating Biopharmaceutical Science
06.14.13 | By John Castellani
Science has been on my mind lately – and for two very good reasons. As you might have heard, Dr. Bill Chin, Executive Dean for Research at Harvard Medical School, will be joining PhRMA to lead our Scientific and Regulatory Affairs department, starting July 1. We are thrilled to be welcoming Dr. Chin to the team, as he brings a tremendous amount of experience in drug discovery, clinical research, regulatory sciences and academic-industry collaborations. Read more.
PDUFA/FDASIA Implementation Update
06.13.13 | By Stephanie Fischer
As you may know from reading past Catalyst posts, the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) was reauthorized last July when the Food and Drug Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) was signed into law. Despite the sequestration of the user fees collected under PDUFA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun to implement elements of PDUFA V. Read more.
Part D Preserves Access to Medicines for Beneficiaries with Diabetes
06.12.13 | By Liz Magsig
The Annals of Internal Medicine recently published a study that compared prescription diabetes medicine use between Medicare Part D and the Veterans Affairs (VA) program, specifically focusing on generic drug use. The study and subsequent media coverage overlook some important facts about prescription drug coverage in these two programs. Read more.
06.12.13 | By Preet Bilinski
Every 39 seconds an American dies from cardiovascular disease, and more than 83 million Americans have at least one type of the disease, the American Heart Association (AHA) reports. But today, America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are developing 215 medicines for two of the leading causes of death of Americans – heart disease and stroke. Read more.
Week in Review: Innovation Provides Value for Patients...And Everyone Else, Too
06.07.13 | By Kaelan Hollon
Medical innovation does an enormous amount of good for patients, but there is also a broader societal impact: innovative research positively impacts the economy, as well. Read more.
U.S. Policy Makers Can't Ignore Storm Clouds from India
06.07.13 | By Chip Davis
This week, the Commerce Department released the latest data on America’s trade balance, and the news was not good. While exports of U.S. goods and services rose in April, our trade deficit grew to $40.3 billion, up more than 8 percent in a single month. Read more.
Standardized CoI Policies Can Help Foster Collaboration and Innovation
06.07.13 | By Karl Uhlendorf
Earlier this week, PhRMA’s Gabriela Lavezzari, Assistant Vice President, Scientific Affairs, participated in an Institute of Medicine (IoM) workshop, titled “Conflict of Interest in Medical Innovation: Assuring Integrity while Facilitating Innovation in Medical Research.” Read more.
Governor Pence Calls for Life Sciences Expansion in Indiana
06.04.13 | By Jeff Trewhitt
At the latest Research in Your Backyard event in Indiana today, Indiana Governor Mike Pence acknowledged the many positive impacts of the clinical research conducted by biopharmaceutical companies in the Hoosier State and said he’d like to expand the partnership. Read more.
Cooperation for Patient Health
06.04.13 | By Jennifer Wall
At the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg told attendees, “What motivates us every day is getting safe and effective innovative medical products to patients that need them.” Read more.
PhRMA @ #ASCO13: Investing in Medicines Leads to Long-Term Savings
06.04.13 | By Jennifer Wall
Earlier this year, we revealed that there are currently more than 5,000 medicines in the biopharmaceutical pipeline around the world, including more than 3,000 potential medicines for cancer patients. Read more.
PhRMA @ #ASCO13: Specialty Medicines Bring About Major Health Advances
06.03.13 | By Jennifer Wall
Specialty medicines often focus on treating the most complex diseases, including cancer, and are generally perceived to cost more. Contrary to popular belief, these medicines comprise only a small share of health care costs and yield major health advances. Read more.
Feeling Good About Optimism at ASCO
06.02.13 | By Brian Reid
Each year, optimism is the default mood at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting. And not without good reason: each year, new data is presented that changes the way oncology is practiced, in small ways and in big ways. Read more.
PhRMA @ #ASCO13: It's Not A Breakthrough, It's Incremental Innovation
06.02.13 | By Jennifer Wall
The term “medical breakthrough” evokes the notion of expediency, immediacy and achievement. However, we often forget that a new technology or medical discovery did not occur in a year, but is the product of years or even decades of hard work and dedication in the research lab. Read more.
16 Year Old at ASCO Demonstrates Why Curiosity Is Our Best Weapon Against Cancer
06.01.13 | By Brian Reid
There are many great tools on display at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting that are being used to better understand and attack cancer: genetic information, carefully crafted immunotherapies, antibody-drug conjugates. But the most important tool is the one often taken for granted: curiosity. Read more.
PhRMA @ #ASCO13: Biopharmaceutical Sector Propels Economic Activity
06.01.13 | By Jennifer Wall
As more than 25,000 oncology professionals meet for ASCO’s annual meeting, it’s clear that the U.S. has a unique advantage when it comes to biopharmaceutical innovation. Read more.
Week in Review: Promoting Safe Medicines
05.31.13 | By Kaelan Hollon
A troubling headline in the Wall Street Journal’s Africa section caught my attention earlier this week – “Africa’s Malaria Battle: Fake Drug Pipeline Undercuts Progress.” The article described customs officials in Angola finding a counterfeit Malaria drug disguised in a shipment of loudspeakers from China. Read more.
PhRMA @ #ASCO13: Innovation Extends, Improves and Saves Lives in the War Against Cancer
05.31.13 | By Jennifer Wall
With the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) annual meeting kicking off today in Chicago, we are reminded that oncology patients are living longer, healthier lives compared to years past. Read more.
05.31.13 | By Brian Reid
Over the course of the past 24 hours, thousands of physicians, researchers, advocates and executives have poured into Chicago for the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Read more.
Ending the Tobacco Epidemic for World No Tobacco Day
05.31.13 | By Christian Clymer
As more U.S. cities become smoke free, we’re seeing first hand what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is saying – U.S. tobacco use has declined significantly. Read more.
CMS Offers Informative Take on Physician Prep for Sunshine
05.31.13 | By Jenni Brewer
CMS wrote an informative Perspective article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that highlights the important role of the physician community in the implementation of the Physician Payment Sunshine Act. Read more.
Patients, Doctors Must Educate Themselves on the Dangers of Counterfeit Drugs
05.28.13 | By Kaelan Hollon
Today marks the 15th Global Anti-Counterfeiting Day, and the following guest post was submitted by Marvin Shepherd, Bryan Liang and Thomas Kubic of the Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM), a leading nonprofit organization fighting against counterfeit drugs. Read more.
Alliance for a Stronger FDA Explains Why Sufficient Funding for FDA is Critical
05.28.13 | By Sascha Haverfield
The FDA regulates approximately twenty-five percent of products that consumers spend their money on in America. The FDA is responsible for food safety and the review of the safety and efficacy of medical products. The Agency protects the American people, their pets, and their farm animals from poorly made, counterfeit, and illegal food, drugs, and cosmetics. Read more.
Week in Review: Exercising the Mind & Body for Innovation
05.24.13 | By Kaelan Hollon
If you’re like me, physical education class was a welcome break from history and math. Unfortunately, it is being cut from school programs. Yesterday, The Today Show featured a report released by the Institute of Medicine that found children need at least one full hour of exercise in school daily and that physical education needs to remain a core class. Read more.
Happy 100th Birthday American Cancer Society
05.24.13 | By Josie Martin
When President Nixon signed the National Cancer Act of 1971, there were three million cancer survivors. Today, there are more than 13 million. By 2022, this number will increase to 18 million. While far from over, the war on cancer is well underway. Within our lifetime, it’s likely that a cure will be within reach. Read more.
Report Highlights Importance of Intellectual Property Protections
05.23.13 | By Jay Taylor
With TPP, Indian and other IP infringement and innovation issues shaping international headlines in recent weeks, IP is increasingly being recognized as a central driver of growth, development and access to medicines. A report released today by the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property reinforces IP's critical importance... Read more.
Bob Hugin's Call to Action: Protect Medical Innovation
05.23.13 | By Jennifer Wall
Bob Hugin, Chairman and CEO, Celgene and Chairman of the PhRMA Board, recently sat down with Life Science Leader magazine to talk about the value of medical innovation. If you haven’t read it already, I urge you to do so because Bob offers some very insightful thoughts on why we as a society should celebrate biopharmaceutical innovation because of the tremendous benefits it provides to patients and the U.S. economy. Read more.
Rick Smith Testified Before Congress Today About Why Part D Works
05.22.13 | By Liz Magsig
PhRMA’s Rick Smith, Executive Vice President of Policy and Research, testified today in a hearing called, “10 Years Later: A Look at the Medicare Prescription Drug Program,” hosted by the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging. Read more.
Protecting IP: Balancing Current and Future Interests
05.22.13 | By Chip Davis
With the 17th round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations taking place in Lima, Peru, the importance of strong U.S. trade and innovation policy is once again front and center. When it comes to protecting intellectual property, it’s critical that negotiators keep in mind the far-reaching implications of pro-IP measures on our economy, health and well being, and society overall. Read more.
Research in Your Backyard May Soon Be in Latin America
05.22.13 | By Jeff Trewhitt
In Colombia, unprecedented price controls in the private market are being contemplated and such policies – a threat to continued research and development of new medicines – are already in effect in El Salvador and also under consideration elsewhere in the region. Read more.
STEM Education and Future Innovators in America
05.22.13 | By Jennifer Wall
Did you know that fewer than 40 percent of students who enter college intending to major in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field actually graduate with a STEM degree? This is very troubling. According to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the U.S. will need to produce one million additional STEM graduates over the next decade to maintain its position as the world leader in science and technology innovation. Read more.
