The document discusses the concept of a "biotech social contract" where the biotech industry commits to developing new medicines and technologies that will eventually become generic, and society commits to providing universal health insurance with low out-of-pocket costs so patients can afford treatments. It encourages writing an op-ed framing drug development within this social contract and calling on legislators to eliminate out-of-pocket costs to uphold society's end of the bargain and ensure patients can access needed treatments.
4. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
The drug development industry’s commitment to
developing new medicines (and other technologies) that will
go generic without undue delay
is reciprocated by
society’s commitment to providing
universal health insurance with low/no out-of-pocket costs
so patients can afford what their physicians prescribe.
5. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
The drug development industry’s commitment to
developing new medicines (and other technologies) that will
go generic without undue delay
is reciprocated by
society’s commitment to providing
universal health insurance with low/no out-of-pocket costs
so patients can afford what their physicians prescribe.
6. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
The drug development industry’s commitment to
developing new medicines (and other technologies) that will
go generic without undue delay
is reciprocated by
society’s commitment to providing
universal health insurance with low/no out-of-pocket costs
so patients can afford what their physicians prescribe.
10. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
Synthetic genericization after 15-20 years
Government already contracts for pandemic flu
vaccines with fixed margins
Won’t hinder innovation – only first ~15 years on
market count in NPV models that justify early
investment
11. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
The drug development industry’s commitment to
developing new medicines (and other technologies) that will
go generic without undue delay
is reciprocated by
society’s commitment to providing
universal health insurance with low/no out-of-pocket costs
so patients can afford what their physicians prescribe.
17. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
Lobby for elimination/capping
of out-of-pocket costs
(source of outrage)
How you can lobby…
18. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
Write an article/op-ed about your
work using the framework of the
biotech social contract
Here’s how…
19. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
Start with a meaningful human story
There is a problem… describe Disease X
It causes suffering and costs society a lot of money… doctor visits,
hospital stays, surgery, and other healthcare services
That will be true 20, 50, and 100 years from now and those costs
are only climbing.
WRITE AN ARTICLE/OP-ED
20. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
We believe we can make a difference, and we’re developing Drug X
based on novel scientific discoveries.
Our company needs/has funding and can only get/keep it if investors
know that we can charge and get paid a high price when we launch
for a finite time.
But after our patents expire, our drug will remain an inexpensive
generic forever.
WRITE AN ARTICLE/OP-ED
21. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
We know that the public is outraged over patients being unable to
afford the medicines their doctors prescribe.
So are we.
High drug costs are more analogous to paying off a mortgage
(investment) vs paying rent (expenses)
If we couldn’t charge high prices, investors would pull our funding,
not because they are heartless but because people just can’t invest
their retirement savings in a non-profit pursuit.
WRITE AN ARTICLE/OP-ED
22. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
We want all patients to be able to afford what their physicians
prescribe.
That’s the whole reason we are pursuing a treatment.
We do not expect any patient to be able to afford to pay for our
drug – not even by means of a 20% or 10% copayment.
WRITE AN ARTICLE/OP-ED
23. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
Since no patient can get a drug unless a physician prescribes it, we
don’t see the point of out-of-pocket costs as a means of ensuring
that patients have skin in the game; their suffering and distress is
more than enough sacrifice.
Paying for the drugs we need when our doctors say we need them
is what health insurance is for, and high out-of-pocket costs should
not be the reason that patients who could benefit from our drug
continue to suffer.
WRITE AN ARTICLE/OP-ED
24. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
Just as people whose homes are burning should not
have to pay a copayment to the fire department to
subsidize a service that protects our whole
community, patients who need treatment today
should not have to subsidize innovation that
potentially serves everyone for the rest of time.
That’s what taxes and insurance are for.
FIRE DEPARTMENT ANALOGY:
25. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
Yes, we believe that healthcare is a right.
Our drug is a worthwhile investment that society can afford on
behalf of current and future generations of patients with Disease X.
We can step up together to spread costs across the entire
population through our taxes and insurance premiums rather than
force those unlucky enough to get sick to collapse under the burden
of medical debt.
WRITE AN ARTICLE/OP-ED
26. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
So we ask our elected leaders, Congresswoman A and
Senators B and C, to pass legislation to eliminate or
significantly cap out-of-pocket costs and avoid short-
sighted reforms such as price controls that treat
worthwhile investments like expenses and would shut
down funding for our research and so much other drug
development, dooming all patients who have Disease X
today and all who will ever be diagnosed with it to a
future no better than what they face today.
CALL TO ACTION:
27. THE BIOTECH SOCIAL CONTRACT
To get a template…
Email Jessica Sagers, PhD
Associate, Publishing and Outreach
RA Capital Management
Jsagers@racap.com
And join www.IncubateCoalition.org
