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New Polling Shows Strong Majority of Americans Hold Big Drug Companies Responsible for High Drug Prices, Want Congress to Take Immediate Action

CAPD

Washington, D.C., January 25, 2022 – Today, the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs released new polling conducted by Hart Research Associates showing a large majority of Americans clearly know that big drug companies bear responsibility for high drug prices and want Congress and the Administration to take immediate action to protect patients. The polling comes as brand drug manufacturers continue to spend millions of dollars attempting to deflect blame and convince Americans they are not responsible for the high prices they set and continue to raise arbitrarily.

Key takeaways of the polling include:

  • An overwhelming majority of Americans (80%) want Congress to take action against drug companies for setting high drug prices.
  • More than 3 in 4 Americans want Congress to stop big drug companies’ anticompetitive tactics, including 94% of respondents who support policies to improve or simplify the process for resolving patent disputes between brand-name and generic manufacturers.
  • 65% of Americans believe pharmaceutical companies are “most responsible” for causing the high cost of prescription drugs.

“Our research shows that American voters see the predatory practices of drug companies as the cause of high drug prices, and they are demanding action by Congress to address drug company prices,” said Geoffrey Garin, President of Hart Research Associates. “Voters will be deeply suspicious of policies that try to shift the blame away from drug companies, including policies that weaken PBMs’ work to lower costs and increase premiums for drug coverage, especially for seniors in Medicare.”

“As an employer coalition, our members go toe-to-toe with Big Pharma every day to deliver affordable prescription drugs to their employees,” said CAPD Spokeswoman Maura Keefe. “This polling clearly shows that the public is not buying Big Pharma’s blame game. Instead of airing television ads trying to deflect blame, big drug companies should stop blocking generic alternatives, stop patent manipulation, and stop charging American patients more than they charge other patients across the globe. Now is the time for Congress to put an end to drug companies gaming the system and raising their drug prices at will.”

These findings are from a national online survey among 1,201 registered voters. The interviews were conducted from November 8 to 10, 2021. The sample is demographically and geographically representative of the electorate and is consistent with the political dispositions of registered voters, nationwide.

CAPD continues to support policies that tackle the problem of high drug prices at its root: the high and rising prices set by big drug companies. You can read Hart Research Associates’ full findings memo here.

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The Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs (CAPD) represents a diverse group of public and private employers, retirees, unions, and the pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) they partner with to provide affordable, sustainable prescription drug coverage to their employees and members.

Hart Research Associates is one of the leading research firms in the United States and has been at the cutting edge of change in public opinion since its founding in 1971. In addition to conducting research among everyday Americans, voters, and consumers, Hart Research Associates interviews elite audiences, including C-suite decisionmakers, senior government officials, and thought leaders across a full range of disciplines, both nationally and abroad.

Media Contact:

Tori Canada

(812) 219-1270