What Pharmaceuticals Spend On Lobbying To Influence Trump

Pharmaceuticals need a palliative in the age of Donald Trump.

Even before taking office, the president threatened the industry’s profit model with a commitment to lower treatment prices. He accused drugmakers of “getting away with murder” and suggested “new bidding procedures” to increase competition.

Shortly after, Trump proposed a $5.8 billion funding cut for the National Institutes of Health, which some experts said would eliminate early-stage research and ultimately stunt clinical developments industry-wide.

Amid these threats, pharmaceuticals and biotechs spent $144,778,982 on lobbying in the first eight months of 2017, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The partial-year figure is almost on par with the industry’s spending for the entire year of 2004, but it indicates a pace that would yield the lowest annual sum in a decade.

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Here are the top 10 spenders on lobbying so far this year:

1. Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America: $14.2 million

The organization represents some of the largest firms in research, from Sanofi SA (ADR) SNY and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co BMY to GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) GSK and Johnson & Johnson JNJ. Each member has much to lose from NIH budget cuts.

2. Amgen, Inc. AMGN: $6.6 million

With reported acquisition interest, a number of ongoing clinical trials, and outstanding requests with the Food and Drug Administration, Amgen’s future is largely reliant on federal decisions.

3. Novartis AG (ADR) NVS: $5.9 million

FDA approval for rival candidates has offset equally positive news out of Novartis this year, revealing competitive struggles in a still expanding field.

4. Pfizer Inc. PFE: $5.7 million

Between patent expirations, risk surrounding high-priced Medicare drugs, and analyst expectations of a “major” merger, the firm is highly exposed to regulatory activity.

5. Bayer AG (ADR) BAYRY: $5.0 million

The company awaits U.S. approval to close its $128-per-share purchase of Monsanto Company MON.

6. Biotechnology Innovation Organization: $4.7 million

7. Merck & Co., Inc. MRK: $3.7 million

8. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) TEVA: $3.5 million

9. Eli Lilly and Co LLY: $3.5 million

10. AbbVie Inc ABBV: $3.2 million

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________ Image Credit: By Joyce N. Boghosian - https://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/36550024310/, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons