David Mitchell: US drug price warrior

Biography

David Mitchell, 68, is mad about the price of drugs in the US, and he means to do something about it. A former partner at the advertising and communications company GMMB in Washington, DC, he had multiple myeloma diagnosed in 2010 and keeps well with drugs that now cost $440 000 (£340 000; €380 000) a year, paid for through Medicare and supplemental insurance. Although grateful for the medicines, Mitchell is angry about their cost and last year set up Patients for Affordable Drugs. It’s the only independent patient voice on drug pricing, he says, because all other patient organisations take money from drug companies. Americans are furious at the drug companies, he says, and he aims to channel that anger into change.