Why so many people are pissed off about the drug industry's lawsuit against insulin program

[TexasTowelie]

Why so many people at the Capitol are so pissed off about the drug industry’s lawsuit against Minnesota’s new emergency insulin program


From the day they introduced it to the day it passed the Minnesota Legislature, backers of a bill to provide insulin to diabetics who can’t afford the hormone said it wouldn’t draw a lawsuit from drug makers.

Citing assurances from unnamed industry executives, those proponents of the bill, which relies on the companies’ existing patient assistance program charities instead of substantial fees on drug companies, was less of a lawsuit magnet. In April, the DFL-controlled Minnesota House approved the bill by 111-22. The Senate responded with a vote of 67-0.

They were wrong.

On Tuesday night, just hours before the Alex Smith Insulin Affordability Act was to take effect, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America — the industry trade group better known as PhRMA — filed suit to get the new law declared unconstitutional. “A state cannot simply commandeer private property to achieve its public policy goals,” states the suit, which names the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy and MNsure as defendants. “Because the Act takes private property for public use without paying just compensation, it is unconstitutional and should be enjoined.”

Walz’s reaction: ‘What the hell?’

Minnesota’s plan, brokered by Republicans in the state Senate, relies on existing patient assistance programs run by pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo-Nordisk. Only if the companies refused to participate in the program do they face fees or fines: $200,000 per month for six months, and increasing to $400,000 per month for the next six. After a year of non-participation, fines go to $600,000 a month.

Read more: https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2020/07/why-so-many-people-at-the-capitol-are-so-pissed-off-about-the-drug-industrys-lawsuit-against-minnesotas-new-emergency-insulin-program/

[applegrove]

1. Banting and Best provided the drug for free. They did not charge for

their discouvery of insulin. Now insulin has morphed into something different enough in its manufacturing that drug companies feel they can charge an arm and a leg. That is horrifying and terrifying.

[drmeow]

2. If there is going to be a reign of terror here

let's start with drug company executives.