US drug companies pledge to keep price rises “reasonable” as legislators try to rein in costs

Leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have signed a commitment to pricing that enables “broad” and “uninterrupted” patient access in the face of action from US lawmakers to drive down prescription costs.

The New Commitment to Patients pledges “to achieve broad patient access” to products at launch through a pricing structure that reflects “innovation and value,” and to ensure any subsequent price rises are “reasonable and guided by the need for uninterrupted patient access.” It adds that industry “will collaborate with policymakers, pharmacy, benefit managers, payers, and providers to find ways to limit or eliminate copays and deductibles for all patients.”

The commitment was drafted by the chief executives of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Amicus Therapeutics, Global Blood Therapeutics, GlycoMimetics, Nkarta Therapeutics, …