Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

From Disinfopedia

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is one of the largest and most influencial lobbying organizations in Washington. Representing 48 pharmaceutical companies, PhRMA has 20 registered lobbyists on staff and has contracted with dozens of lobby and PR firms--including Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, Barbour Griffith & Rogers, DCI Group, Edelman and Bonner & Associates--to promote its members' interests. PhRMA has a record of hiding its lobbying and PR activities, often by paying other organizations, such as United Seniors Association (USA) or the Consumer Alliance, to advocate industry-friendly policies.

On its website PhRMA states that its "mission is winning advocacy for public policies that encourage the discovery of life-saving and life-enhancing new medicines for patients by pharmaceutical/biotechnology research companies. To accomplish this mission, PhRMA is dedicated to achieving in Washington, DC, the states and the world: broad patient access to safe and effective medicines through a free market, without price controls; strong intellectual property incentives; and transparent, efficient, regulation and a free flow of information to patients."

The February 2003 issue of the AARP Bulletin reported: "Three nonprofit organizations that claim to speak for older Americans are in fact heavily bankrolled by the pharmaceutical industry, an examination of tax records by the AARP Bulletin shows. United Seniors Association, for example, got more than a third of its funds in 2001 from drug-industry sources. The big donors included Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the industry's trade association; Citizens for Better Medicare, a PhRMA-funded nonprofit group; and Pfizer Inc. Total industry contributions: at least $3.1 million."

PhRMA lobbying activities have extended outside of the United States. "America's big drug companies are intensifying their lobbying efforts to 'change the Canadian health-care system' and eliminate subsidized prescription drug prices enjoyed by Canadians," CanWest News Service reported on June 9, 2003. "A prescription drug industry spokesman in Washington confirmed to CanWest News Service that information contained in confidential industry documents is accurate and that $1 million US is being added to the already heavily funded drug lobby against the Canadian system." PhRMA was the leading drug industry trade group behind the increased lobbying and PR campaign. PhRMA was also independently spending $450,000 to target the booming Canadian Internet pharmacy industry, which has been providing Americans with prescription drugs at lower prices than in the United States.

Contact

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
1100 15th St. NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: 202-835-3400
Fax: 202-835-3414
Website: www.phrma.org

External Links

• Nicholas Confessore, "Meet the Press: How James Glassman Reinvented journalism--As Lobbying", Washington Monthly, December 2003.
• Sheryl Gay Stolberg, "Drug Lobby Pushed Letter By Senators On Medicare", New York Times, July 30, 2003, p. A15.
• Jim VandeHei and Juliet Eilperin, "Drug Firms Gain Church Group's Aid Claim About Import Measure Stirs Anger", Washington Post, July 23, 2003, p. A1.
• Tim Craig, "Community Leaders Decry Lobby Firm's Fax", Baltimore Sun, March 9, 2002.
• Peter H. Stone, "PhRMA Fights Back", National Journal, July 21, 2001.
• Julian Borger, "USA: The Pharmaceutical Industry Stalks the Corridors of Power", Guardian Unlimited, February 13, 2001.