Blog

May 23, 2025

Drug Industry Quietly Funds “Patient Advocacy” Groups to Fight Medicare Drug Price Negotiations

A new investigation by Patients for Affordable Drugs (P4AD) has uncovered a troubling tactic used by the pharmaceutical industry to protect profits and keep drug prices high: secretly funding so-called “patient advocacy” groups.

The report profiles six such groups all of which have deep financial ties to the drug industry.

These groups receive substantial funding from PhRMA, the powerful trade group representing drug manufacturers, as well as other wealthy pharmaceutical donors. Many are also staffed with
former drug company executives and lobbyists. Despite their names, these organizations are not advocating for patients — they are working to protect corporate profits.

Their latest target? Medicare’s new power to negotiate lower drug prices, a long-overdue reform that could bring real relief to seniors. These front groups are spending thousands on misleading
ads and social media campaigns designed to scare the public and weaken support for lower drug prices.

“Our voices are powerful – that’s why the drug corporations invest millions to create the illusion of public support,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “We must keep the focus on the high prices Americans are paying for prescription drugs and stand up to these powerful corporations.”

This was originally published in the May 23, 2025 edition of the Friday Alert. Read the full length version and see other Friday Alert editions here.