US drug industry group launches campaign to defend pricing

A major drug industry group in the United States has launched a media campaign to defend pricing policies in the face of growing demand for government action to control the soaring prices of generic and brand name prescription drugs.1 2

Over the past year reports of steep price rises of many commonly used drugs such as insulin, rises of as much as 5000% for some off-patent generic drugs, and the introduction of new specialty drugs that can cost more than $100 000 (£75 000; €90 000) for a course of treatment have led to Congressional investigations and calls for legislation to curtail drug costs.

US residents pay the most in the world …