Help protect local life sciences jobs, innovation, and future cures for Maryland patients
Maryland's life sciences industry is a national leader in biopharmaceutical and technology innovation. Companies, organizations, and universities across the state work around the clock to research, develop, and test treatments that transform lives.
Unfortunately, a provision within the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) actually discourages investment in the research and development of a critical type of medication. The IRA allows Medicare to set prices for some prescription medicines, but the law arbitrarily differentiates between certain drugs, giving biologics – drug typically injected in a hospital or clinic – 13 years until government-negotiated prices kick in. Meanwhile, small molecule drugs – which are typically pills that can be taken at home – have just nine years of protection from price setting policies. Small molecules, which make up 90% of all prescriptions, can be taken orally and are often crucial to targeting hard-to-treat ailments like cancer or heart disease.
There's no scientific reason for this four-year disparity. But this "pill penalty" is already altering support for critical treatments, threatening future cures and Maryland's leading innovation ecosystem.
Help protect local life sciences jobs, innovation, and future cures for Maryland patients.
Join us today and send a letter to Congress urging them to support critical innovation, research, and development happening here in Maryland.
[SUBJ] Support H.R. 1492 to Protect Maryland Innovation, Jobs, and Patients
Dear [LEGISLATOR NAME],
As your constituent, I urge you to support the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act (H.R. 1492), legislation that would address a misguided provision in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that discourages investment in the research and development of critical treatments. Maryland is a national leader in life sciences and technology innovation. Our state is home to over 2,700 life sciences , more than 500 biotechnology companies, and 74 federal research labs, that employ over 54,000 Marylanders.
Under the IRA, Medicare is allowed to set prices for some prescription medicines. However, the law arbitrarily differentiates between drugs, giving biologics – drug typically injected in a hospital or clinic – 13 years until government-negotiated prices kick in. Meanwhile, small molecule drugs – which usually come in pill form – have just nine years. Small-molecule drugs are easily absorbed into the bloodstream and can cross the blood-brain barrier, making them crucial therapeutic options for many chronic conditions and cancers. There's no scientific reason for this four-year disparity. But this "small molecule penalty" is already altering support and investment for critical treatments, ultimately threatening future cures and Maryland's leading innovation ecosystem.
H.R. 1492 will ensure continued investment into small molecule medications by equalize the period of price-control exemptions to 13 years. I urge you to support Maryland's innovation ecosystem and ensure future cures make it into the hands of the patients who need them most.
Thank you,
[Name]
