
Progress Built on Commitment
Through partnerships across the country, the PhRMA Equity Initiative is committed to creating a more representative workforce and equitable health care system.
Watch our video to learn more about the PhRMA Equity Initiative’s progress, and how we’re committed to building on our 2020 commitments.
Updates on Our Progress
Clinical Trial Diversity
July 2022: Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development

Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development, a first-of-its-kind, cross-collaborative, community-based effort, seeks to tackle systemic challenges to clinical trial participation and share our findings broadly to help drive change.
This partnership is focused on supporting local sites and patients in underrepresented communities to enhance clinical trial diversity in a sustainable way.
Health Equity
PhRMA Announces Nearly $500k In Health Equity Grants

PhRMA is dedicated to building a more equitable health care system.
The PhRMA CAREs grant program provides financial awards to community-based organizations that work to address health inequities.
Learn more about the latest round of awardees and their efforts to improve access to medicines.
Talent
2022 Pathways to Success Graduate Summit and Career Expo

On September 28 and 29, PhRMA held its second annual graduate summit and career expo, Pathways to Success. Over the course of the two-day summit, we welcomed over 700 registered participants, representing 224 schools, from across the country.
Building a More Equitable Health Care System
COVID-19 and the disproportionate impact it has had on communities of color has shown us that the time to fix inequities in our health care system is right now. Communities of color must finally receive the highest quality of care. Every patient deserves the opportunity to make rational and informed decisions about their own care. We commit to industry action and to supporting policies that will build a more just, equitable health care system, including:
Improving Clinical Trial Diversity

Improving clinical trial diversity and building an industry workforce that better represents the diversity of the United States by encouraging a culture of inclusion and investments in educational pathways.
Investing in Data

Investing in rigorous data and measurement infrastructure by improving data collection and reporting that more accurately measures health disparities.
Promoting Best Practices

Promoting best practices for improving equity in health care screenings, diagnosis and treatment.
Aligning with Equity Goals

Align incentives with equity goals by supporting equity-focused quality metrics and equitable access to medicines for all communities.
We are working to deliver a more affordable and equitable health care system for all. For a summary and detailed overview of PhRMA's patient-centered agenda, click below.
Member Company Efforts
PhRMA and the companies we represent are driving progress to promote more diversity in clinical trials and ensuring underserved communities receive access to important therapies. Our companies are building infrastructure in local communities to make it easier for patients to plug in to the health care system and knock down some of the barriers that prevent patients from accessing clinical trials. Other efforts include attracting more diverse talent to our industry and expanding partnerships with diverse suppliers and vendors.
Click a Member Company Logo to Learn More
Reports and Agency Comments
PhRMA publishes reports about equity efforts and submits public comments to government agencies on issues of health equity and clinical trial diversity.
Resources

Progress Built on Commitment: PhRMA Equity in 2022
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ReportSince PhRMA's 2020 commitment to leading the biopharmaceutical industry's efforts to push for better health outcomes for underserved communities, we have dedicated significant time and resources toward areas where we can drive real progress—namely health equity, clinical trial diversity and talent.

Report: Insurance Barriers Contribute to Health Disparities Among Commercially Insured American
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ReportAs health insurance benefit designs increasingly shift prescription drug costs to patients or impose other barriers to access, the impact disproportionately falls on people of color. This report outlines how many common commercial health insurance benefit design features create barriers to access medicines, why these barriers impact underserved communities and communities of color more severely, and what practices and policies may help achieve more equitable coverage for commercially insured patients.

Understanding Medicine Abandonment as a Barrier to Health Equity
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Speeches & CommunicationIn the United States, nearly one in ten new prescriptions, a total of 55 million, were never picked up at the pharmacy in 2020. However, medicine abandonment does not impact all populations equally. An analysis based on IQVIA data revealed that even with insurance, African American patients are less likely to pick up their medicines at the pharmacy counter than White patients. This can lead to worse health outcomes for these patients and further contribute to existing gaps in health equity.