Nearly 80 researchers advocate on Capitol Hill

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Yesterday, PhRMA welcomed 76 researchers from 25 member companies to Washington, D.C. for our annual Federal Researcher Fly-in event. The researchers met with over 175 congressional offices to talk about the importance of protecting their ability to innovate.

I was fortunate to meet these researchers and hear about the work they do each day on behalf of patients. Researching and developing new medicines and cures is incredibly difficult and complex. On average, it takes 10-15 years and costs $2.6 billion to develop one new medicine, including the cost of the many failures. And less than 12% of the candidate medicines that enter clinical trials eventually receive FDA approval. But many policymakers don’t understand the degree of this risk.

Despite the hurdles, it’s clear: We’re in a golden era of medical innovation. We have made real strides in areas like sickle cell disease, obesity, heart disease, cancer and rare disease.

We are in a pivotal moment for U.S. leadership. Global competition—especially from China—is intensifying. And policies like MFN price controls, weakened IP protections and other short-term cost-cutting proposals can undermine the innovation ecosystem. Policymakers cannot expect the same breakthroughs for patients if they weaken the system that makes them possible.

That’s why this annual researcher fly-in is so important. If we get the policy environment right, we can continue delivering breakthroughs while ensuring patients benefit from them more quickly and more equitably.

I’m thankful for the incredible impact the researchers at America’s biopharmaceutical companies have on the lives of patients and their families and for their time in D.C. this week.

Stephen J. Ubl

Stephen J. Ubl is president and chief executive officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which represents America’s leading biopharmaceutical research companies. The U.S. biopharmaceutical sector directly employs more than 800,000 Americans and invests more than $100 billion in research and development annually – more than any other industry in America.

Ubl leads PhRMA’s work preserving and strengthening a health care and economic environment that encourages medical innovation, new drug discovery and access to life-saving medicines. Ubl is recognized around the world as a leading health care advocate and policy expert who collaborates successfully with diverse stakeholder groups – including patient and physician groups, regulators, public and private payers, and global trade organizations – to help ensure timely patient access to innovative treatments and cures. The New York Times writes, “If anyone can find areas of agreement with the critics, or at least work productively with them, it may be Mr. Ubl. He is more conversant with the intricacies of health policy, and more adept at the politics."

Previously, Ubl served as president and CEO of medical technology association AdvaMed, where he helped facilitate landmark reforms related to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration product review process and Medicare’s coverage and reimbursement of medical technologies. He led the industry’s defense of breakthrough R&D, successfully delaying an innovation-stifling device tax, and, in 2013, was recognized by a leading industry publication as one of 10 people to have a lasting impact on the medical technology industry.

Ubl has worked extensively with patient advocacy organizations in health policy, including longstanding service on the board of the National Health Council, a leading umbrella organization for voluntary health care organizations and has been personally involved with JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

He is routinely recognized as one of Washington’s most effective advocates. Ubl has been recognized on Business Insider’s “DC Healthcare Power Players” and Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.” He is identified as a top health influencer by Medical Marketing & Media and PR Week magazines.

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