John Manchester John Manchester
Director, IP Policy, Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC), U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Published

January 16, 2025

Share

In 2024, we observed a focused campaign by anti-patent activists urging the U.S. government to intervene to lower drug prices. Unfortunately, despite substantial evidence showing that such policies would have minimal impact on the costs of medicines while significantly hindering medical innovation, these advocates have persisted in their innovation killing efforts in 2025.

Why it matters: Price controls on medicines may seem like a quick fix, but they come with significant drawbacks. As evidence and experience from other countries demonstrate, price controls reduce the availability of new treatments and cures, and ultimately harm patients who rely on cutting-edge medical innovation.  

The research speaks for itself: In 2024, the Chamber regularly highlighted how price controls impact patients and undermine medical innovation. The Chamber’s research shows that:  

The bottom line: It’s clear that price controls will hinder medical innovation, harm American patients, and fail to deliver substantial cost savings. By fostering and supporting a free enterprise system, and by encouraging investment in research and development, we can ensure that patients have access to the most effective and innovative treatments available and save and enhance the quality of life for millions of people in the process.

About the authors

John Manchester

John Manchester