NEWS: Sanders Statement on Biden Administration’s New Reasonable Pricing Policy

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Thursday issued the following statement after the White House announced that the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) would make “fair pricing” a standard part of contract negotiations for tests, treatments, and vaccines. In March, the HELP Committee held a hearing on Moderna’s decision to quadruple the price of the COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed through a partnership with the federal government.

“I welcome the Biden Administration’s new policy to require reasonable pricing when taxpayers fund the development of certain tests, treatments, and vaccines for public health emergencies,” said Chairman Sanders. “This is an important step forward in lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

“American taxpayers should not be thanked for the world-leading investments they have put into the research and development of prescription drugs by being charged, by far, the highest prices in the world for the medicine they need. In my view, the Administration must include strong reasonable pricing requirements for all prescription drugs sold in America that were developed at taxpayer expense. If the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response can include reasonable pricing clauses, so can the National Institutes of Health.”