Responding to pandemic panic, consumers rushed to stores to arm themselves with hand sanitizing products. This soaring demand prompted the FDA to lower standards for the production of alcohol-based hand sanitizer products, a move that has subsequently resulted in a list of over 200 hand sanitizer products deemed dangerous for consumer health. With trusted brands back on store […]
Health
Letter to the FDA: Remove Unsafe Hand Sanitizers From the Market
Dr. Theresa Michele: The American Consumer Institute (ACI) was founded with the mission to promote consumer welfare by improving the understanding and impact that public policies and regulations have on consumers in a free market. It is with this mission in mind that we are writing to you today to inform you of a serious […]
ACI Joins Coalition Letter in Support of Biosimilar Competition
Today, ACI joined over two dozen groups in sending a letter to Congress in support of legislation that would increase competition for biologic drugs as a means to lower drug prices for patients. On behalf of millions of patients, providers, and taxpayers, we strongly support promoting the use of affordable and safe biosimilars across the […]
Town Hall: Level the Playing Field for Drug Companies and Patients
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), prescription drug expenditure in the United States amounted to a total of $358.7 billion in 2020. It’s estimated that Americans pay around $1,200 each year for prescription medication, well above other comparable countries. One significant cause of high drug prices are the Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). To read this […]
Town Hall: H.R.3 Creates A False Choice Between Drug Supply and Price
In exchange for some short-term price reduction, H.R.3 threatens access to medicine, innovation, research, and drug shortages, which can negatively impact the U.S. healthcare system. Reforming Pharmacy Benefit Managers, for example, rather than establishing price controls or allowing medications to be imported from Canada, is essential for lowering drug prices in a system that currently lacks […]
The Economic Standard: Rx Importation Poses a Threat to Consumers, Not a Solution
According to the GoodRx Research Team, 832 brand drugs have increased by an average of 4.5% since December 31, 2020. Americans pay around $1,200 for prescription drugs a year. The continuing rise of prescription drug prices has a significant impact on many Americans, especially during a global pandemic. In the latest PawnGuru poll, about 20% of respondents say they […]
Coalition Letter Opposing Price Controls on Medical Innovation
Today, dozens of think tank organizations sent a letter to Congress in opposition to H.R. 3 — proposed legislation that would impose price controls on medical drugs and American innovation. The letter is available online.
E-Cigarette Taxes Keep Smokers Smoking
The Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2021 (TTEA) was introduced at the end of April in both Houses of Congress by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL).Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-D-08). If passed, the bill would establish new tax rates on both e-cigarette and tobacco products potentially causing an increase in the smoking […]
Podcast: Short-and Long-Term Implications of Waiving IP Protections for COVID-19 Related Drugs and Technologies – with Andrei Iancu
India, South Africa, and other developing countries are leading the push for a waiver of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) under the rationale that it’s the only way to ensure equitable and affordable access to COVID vaccines. In this podcast episode, Andrei Iancu, former undersecretary of Commerce for intellectual property (IP) […]
TOWNHALL: Waiving TRIPS Will Not Solve Global Access to COVID-19 Vaccine
While the objective of waiving the provisions of the TRIPS agreement is admirable, it should be readily apparent to policymakers in Washington and the WTO that loosening intellectual property protections will not expedite vaccine manufacturing or distribution in economically developing countries. These countries do not possess the facilities to manufacture and distribute vaccines themselves. To […]