AHF: ‘No More Tears for J and J Greed!’

Drug pricing advocates target Johnson & Johnson, once one of America’s most trusted brands, after New Jersey company contributes $5.8 million to committee to thwart California ballot measure seeking lower drug prices.

In addition, street teams have begun distributing palm cards near the Johnson & Johnson campus to inform local residents and workers of the company’s multi-million dollar contributions to derail the California Drug Price Relief Act, a November 2016 California ballot measure that would mandate government health programs pay no more for prescription drugs than the US Department of Veterans Affairs, which typically gets deep discounts on medications from drug manufacturers.

“It’s truly sad and disappointing that one of the most well-known and trusted companies in America is using its vast resources to try to keep drug prices at their outrageously high levels,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and one of the citizen proponents of the California Drug Price Relief Act. “In 2014, Johnson & Johnson reported making over $16 billion in profit, an 18% increase from the previous year. With those kind of returns, it’s absolutely appalling that this corporate giant would lead the way to oppose grassroots efforts to help the little man—everyday citizens who depend on health agencies and insurers having access to the medications they need. For people living with HIV/AIDS, this is a life-or-death situation.”

While soaring drug prices continue to place undue burden on public health agencies and insurers across the country and drugmakers rake in billions in profits, the pharmaceutical industry’s powerful lobbying arm, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), has established a fund of more than $10 million to fight the California Drug Price Relief Act. According to California Secretary of State public fillings, Johnson & Johnson is the largest contributor to the fund, with $5.86 million donated to date. Drugmakers Amgen ($4.265 million), AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP ($4.15 million), AbbVie Inc. ($4.15 million), (Novartis ($2.88 million), Eli Lily ($2.88 million), Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. ($2.88 million), Otsuka America, Inc. ($1.075 million) and Purdue Pharma LP ($1.105 million) are among the companies who have also contributed millions of dollars to oppose the measure and keep drug prices — and profits — at record levels.