The educational resource, "The Value of Medicine, Improving Health... Improving Life," created by Lilly USA (NYSE: LLY), is now available for download. The booklet supports Lilly's commitment to providing "Answers That Matter" and encourages an open dialogue with patients, providers, payers and the public about pharmaceutical industry practices. "Today, Lilly and others in health care face tough questions about access to care, managing costs, drug safety and the best ways to fight disease," said David Ricks, president, Lilly USA. "Providing answers requires that we understand diverse perspectives, offer reliable information and keep the focus on what's best for patients. This booklet was created to build understanding between Lilly and its partners in the health care system as we pursue a shared goal of improving health outcomes for patients."
This is the fourth edition of the resource, which covers topics including(1):
- Medicine spending - Prescription medicines account for only 10 cents of every dollar spent on health care.(2) In fact, many prescription medicines help reduce other health care costs.(3)
- Access - Pharmaceutical companies are committed to making medicines accessible to patients in financial need. Through patient assistance programs in the United States, the industry provided medicines worth an estimated $14.5 billion and filled more than 115 million prescriptions for patients in need between 2005 and 2008.(4)
- Importation - Purchasing medicines from other countries is illegal, risky and unsafe,(5) and does not guarantee a cost savings for consumers.(6)
- Value of medicine - Advances in medicine have helped to increase longevity.(7) Medicines can lower overall treatment costs and help people avoid the disability and death caused by disease.(8)
- Importance of innovation - Pharmaceutical companies invest more in research and development than other industries.(9) The vast majority of new medicines are discovered and developed by the pharmaceutical industry, not the government.(10)
- Marketing - The pharmaceutical industry spends much more searching for new medicines than it does on promoting those medicines already on the market.(11,12) Research indicates that direct-to-consumer advertisements encourage dialogue between patients and health care providers, prompting many Americans to discuss their illnesses with health care providers for the first time or to do so earlier than they otherwise would have.(13)
For further information and download web links, visit:
http://www.lillyforbetterhealth.com/value_of_medicine.jsp
About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.
(1) The Value of Medicine, Improving Health...Improving Life: Data on file, Lilly USA, LLC, MG59303.
(2) Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 2007 National Health Expenditure data. Available at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/tables.pdf. Accessed May 14, 2009.
(3) Insurance Journal. Study: High Prescription Drug Costs Help Lower Other Medical Costs. Available at: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2008/05/22/90245.htm. Accessed November 19, 2009.
(4) PhRMA Annual Survey: PhRMA Member Company Patient Assistance Programs: Data on file, Lilly USA, LLC, B2B20090701B.
(5) Centers for Disease Control. Counterfeit Drugs and Travel. Available at: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/counterfeit-drugs.aspx. Accessed November 19, 2009.
(6) Consumeraffairs.com. Report: Importing Drugs Wouldn't Save Money. Available at http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/rx_reimport_report.html. Accessed November 10, 2009.
(7) Lichtenberg FR. The Impact of New Drug Launches on Longevity: Evidence from Longitudinal, Disease-Level Data from 52 Countries, 1982-2001. NBER Working Paper No. 9754. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research; June 2003.
(8) Medtap International. The Value of Investment in Health Care: Better Care, Better Lives. Available at: http://www.aha.org/aha/research-and-trends/AHA-policy-research/VoIHC-more-resources.html. Accessed November 19, 2009.
(9) R&D Ratios & Budgets. Libertyville, IL: Schonfeld & Associates, Inc.; June 2008.
(10) Department of Health and Human Services. NIH Response to the Conference Report Request for a Plan to Ensure Taxpayers' Interests are Protected. Available at: http://www.nih.gov/news/070101wyden.htm. Accessed November 19, 2009.
(11) IMS Health, IMS Integrated Promotional Services, June 2009: Data on file, Lilly USA, LLC, B2B20090701E.
(12) Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Pharmaceutical Industry Profile 2009. Washington, D.C.: PhRMA; March 2009.
(13) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Impact of Direct-To-Consumer Advertising. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm143562.htm. Accessed November 19, 2009.