1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: You've got the Secretary of Health and Human Services who 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: will be speaking in mere moments coming to the podium 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 1: right now. That is Robert F. Kennedy Junior, Tony Katz. 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Tony Katz today, good to be with you. Find everything 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: at Tony kats dot com. They're going to talk about 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: lowering drug prices now, as a matter of full disclosure, 7 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 1: the idea of the government looking at drug companies and saying, 8 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: lower your drug prices. I don't like them. He's with 9 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: a doctor, Martin McCary, who runs the FDA. Let's hear 10 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: what the Secretary has to say. 11 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 2: Country, millions of Americans struggle to afford essential medicines. Families 12 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 2: are rationing prescriptions, seniors are skipping doses, and parents are 13 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 2: facing heartbreaking choices between paying for medication or putting food 14 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 2: on their tables. This is not acceptable in the United 15 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 2: States of America. For decades, Americans accepted a fair deal 16 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 2: in pharmaceuticals. A company earns a temporary monopoly for an 17 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 2: interface of drug, and once the patent expires, cheaper generics 18 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 2: enter the market. That system, established by the nineteen eighty 19 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 2: four Hatch Waxman Act, works for traditional chemistry based drugs. 20 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 2: Proving a generic is the equivalent is straightforward. If it's 21 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 2: the same active ingredient, the same effect, same safety, it 22 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 2: gets approved. That bargain broke down with biologic drugs medicines 23 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 2: made from living cells. When Congress wrote the Biologics Price 24 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 2: Competition and Innovation Act, the pharmaceutical industry rigged the rules. 25 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 2: Between two thousand and seven and two thousand and nine, 26 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: Big Pharmer spent hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying to 27 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 2: make biosimilar approval far more difficult and expensive. They claimed 28 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: that biologics were too delicate, that they were too mystical 29 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: to allow true generics. Paired them during these lobbying sessions 30 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 2: to fine wines. Each batch supposedly depended upon its unique grapes, 31 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 2: the tannin content of its soils, the terrain, the humidity, 32 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 2: the genius and personal touches of wizardry to achieve the 33 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 2: unique aromatic and flavor complexity of its tawar. It was 34 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: all clever marketing. None of it was based on science. 35 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: It was all clever marketing. None of it was based 36 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 2: on selock Pharmacists and doctors from switching patients to lower 37 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 2: cost options. The lobby invented a fake distinction between biosimilars 38 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: and interchangeable biosimilars. The result has been sky high costs, 39 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 2: endless red tape, and a biosimilar market that still lags 40 00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:00,079 Speaker 2: far behind Europe's. It can cause hundreds of millions to 41 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 2: US federal taxpayer just to bring one biosimilar to American patients. 42 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:11,239 Speaker 2: That changes today. Under President Trump's leadership, we are ending 43 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 2: this unscientific and corrupt system. We're cutting through the barriers 44 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 2: that protect monopolies and opening the gates to affordable, life 45 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: saving medicine for the American. 46 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: People to amly missing. 47 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 2: One of the biggest drivers of these crushing costs is 48 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 2: the price of prescription drugs, of course, and especially biologic drugs. 49 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 2: These are complex medicines made, as I said, from living 50 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 2: cells at treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, and rare disorders that 51 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: affect millions of Americans. Biologics make up only five percent 52 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: of our prescription they account for more than half of 53 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: our drug spending. Between twenty thirteen and twenty twenty one, 54 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 2: are spending on biologics more than doubled, from one hundred 55 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: billion to two hundred and sixty billion twenty twenty four 56 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: reach four hundred and seven billion. Some biologics cause patients 57 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 2: up to a half million dollars a year or even 58 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 2: more so. 59 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: This is the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This 60 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Talking about lowering drug prices. 61 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: This is UHCCY creating treating biologic barriers like. 62 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: Chemicals and stifled competition. 63 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: That's what I think they're saying here. They're not talking 64 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: about getting rid of process copyrights or patents on those 65 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: things on the entry. What make sure I heard that right? 66 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 2: Lower costs equally safe alternatives to brand and biologics, And 67 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 2: even when simbilers do get approved, current laws often prevent 68 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: pharmacists or patients from substituting them for the patients who 69 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 2: would benefit from a more affordable option. That all ends today. Today, 70 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 2: the FDA is taking bold, decisive action to break down 71 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 2: these barriers and open markets for real competition. The agency 72 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: will release new draft guidance for companies developing biosimilars, guidance 73 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 2: that reflects modern science and common sense. Under this new framework, 74 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 2: companies may not always need to conduct large, expensive human 75 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 2: trials when advanced testing can already prove that biosimilars work 76 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 2: just as effectively and just as safely as the original drug. 77 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: The FDA will also consolidate several outdated guidance documents into 78 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 2: one streamline rule book or cutting unnecessary red tape, reducing 79 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 2: uncertainty and making it easier for innovators to bring the safe, 80 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: affordable biosimilars to the market. 81 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: So if someone creates a biologic and now other groups 82 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: have something similar in scope, they can bring it without 83 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: Well he's not saying they can bring without the testing, 84 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: right if you order. If you argue the concept of 85 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 1: the generic uphill has been around for X number of years, 86 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: a level of patent goes away, and now you can 87 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: create generic versions of that drug. That's one argument he 88 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: seems to be arguing, and I could be wrong about this, 89 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: that if you create a similar drug, well that's fine, 90 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: and you don't have to go through the same levels, 91 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: and therefore you can create what lower prices. Again, I 92 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: need to hear. 93 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 2: More families and for the American taxpayer. But America still 94 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 2: lags far behind Europe and other nations. In Europe, for example, 95 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 2: regulators have approved more than twice as many biosimilars as 96 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 2: the United States, and patients. They are paying far less 97 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 2: for many of these treatments. These reforms reflect President Trump's 98 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: directive to restore a competition, to empower patients and lower 99 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: drug cause for every American. This is a victory for patients, 100 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: for innovation, and for common sense. We're replacing bureaucracy with science, 101 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 2: or replacing monopolies with competition, and we're replacing despair with hope. 102 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 2: Every American, regardless of incomers hip code, deserves access to affordable, 103 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: effective and safe medicine. The actions we're taking today move 104 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 2: us closer to that goal and advance our mission to 105 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 2: make America healthy again. 106 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: So that's what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Speaking. I'm going 107 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: to when he turns it over to Memodas is there 108 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: too for Center Medicare Medicaid. He's going to speak, and 109 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: doctor Martin McCarry is also going to speak. I want 110 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: to take it to doctor McCary, FDA Commissioner, and hear 111 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: his take on this. 112 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 3: Good prices for everyday Americans. We're interested in everyday Americans. 113 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 3: There's been a lot of talk about health care costs, 114 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 3: a lot of talk about reducing drug prices. But as 115 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 3: you've seen from the Oval Office. Thanks to the good 116 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 3: work of doctor Memdaz and his team at CMS, you're 117 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 3: now seeing medications come down to a price point of 118 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 3: pennies on the dollar, reforms that have been discussed for 119 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 3: thirty five years but have never translated into action in 120 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 3: most favored nation status pricing. I'm happy to contribute with 121 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 3: our reform at the FDA to this incredible movement to 122 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 3: lower drug prices, not by one or two percent, but significantly. 123 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 3: If you haven't noticed, health care costs have gone way 124 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 3: up since the promise of the Affordable Care Act to 125 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 3: make the price of health insurance premiums more affordable, lowering 126 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 3: them by twenty five hundred dollars. Within seven years, they 127 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 3: went up by twenty five one hundred dollars, the opposite 128 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 3: direction of the promise. The fastest growing area of health 129 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 3: care spending in the United States is drug spending. The 130 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 3: fastest area of drug spending increases is with this new 131 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 3: class of medicines called biologics. That's because they are derived 132 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 3: from cell lines. It's an expensive process to develop biologics, 133 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 3: so they are naturally going to cost more, but not 134 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 3: a thousand times more, not ten thousand times more. I've 135 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 3: seen biologics work wonders as doctor Oz has in the 136 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 3: hospital our patients. I've seen cancer patients get biologics with 137 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 3: results almost visible during the treatment. 138 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,479 Speaker 1: I'm glad there are results. I'm not arguing against biologics. 139 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: I'm asking, how are you lowering these prices? Again? If 140 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: the argument is force, I'm out. If the argument is 141 00:09:54,840 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 1: a reduction of regulation or a change in mechanism, long 142 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: as the mechanism is safe. 143 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 2: I'm in. 144 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:08,319 Speaker 1: So right now, I'm I'm maybe I'm missing it right. 145 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 1: It's not my baliwick, but it seems like what they're 146 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: saying is the latter. They're changing methodologies that they believe 147 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: better follows today's science, that will allow for more opportunities, 148 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:31,679 Speaker 1: for more competition, thus lower prices. Tell me why I 149 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: would argue that. Why in the world would I argue 150 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: such a thing? Now, maybe there's an argument, right, Just 151 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: because the White House puts it out or the administration 152 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 1: puts it out, doesn't mean that we should be like, well, 153 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 1: case closed, no, no, no, no no. In every situation, 154 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 1: in every case, with every take, we should be asking, 155 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:03,719 Speaker 1: is this the right idea? If we are saying a 156 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: reduction and regulation to create opportunities to create more competition. 157 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: I think I favor this. Now. If you're now going 158 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: to tell people that they don't have their patents, well 159 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:20,079 Speaker 1: that's a whole different thing. But if you're going to 160 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: say we're doing this via some level of force and 161 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: we're now basically extracting the patent, I again say that 162 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: this is not what we want. That is too much 163 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: government power. I don't care who the president is. So 164 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: we have to dig in a little deeper here because 165 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: the moving on lowering prescription drug prices by some level 166 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: of government force is not what we should be down for. 167 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: Wanting to say competition is good, and how do you 168 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: open that up? All in favor, I think I've made 169 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: my position clear. Now I have to understand what it 170 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: is that's being said here. Well, I'm more on this. 171 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: I will get to it. This is Tony Katz today,