TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA (June 11, 2019) — Today, Priscilla VanderVeer, vice president at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), issued the following statement:

“Today is a sad day for Floridians. Make no mistake: while Governor DeSantis and his allies in the legislature are celebrating a political victory at the expense of their constituents, bad actors around the world are undoubtedly already busy plotting ways to get dangerous counterfeit medicines into the state of Florida. 

“As we’ve warned time and time again, this reckless policy could have a devastating impact on patient safety. It’s now up to officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – including at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – to reject any proposal from Florida to implement a state-run importation scheme because, simply put, there is no way to guarantee its safety– which is exactly why no HHS Secretary has ever certified a federal importation proposal.

“We agree that patients should be able to afford their medicines and support reforms, like making sure patients aren’t paying more for their medicines than their insurer, that would provide immediate relief to Floridians. This law will not lower individual patients’ out of pocket costs at the pharmacy counter, but will put Florida’s most vulnerable populations’ health at risk. That is why we will continue working with those in the state who are focused on solutions that will ensure Floridians can get the safe and affordable medicines they need.”

About PhRMA

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies, which are devoted to discovering and developing medicines that enable patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Since 2000, PhRMA member companies have invested more than $900 billion in the search for new treatments and cures, including an estimated $79.6 billion in 2018 alone.

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