The vast majority of pharma innovations come from the US
Roberts 21, senior director of the health and human services task force at the American Legislative Exchange Council; she previously served as campaign manager for Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange’s successful re-election campaign. She holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama (Brooklyn, “Pandemic proves importance of pharmaceutical innovation,” The Hill, https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/556633-pandemic-proves-importance-of-pharmaceutical-innovation/)
The vast majority of the world’s pharmaceutical innovation comes out of the U.S. We produce some of the most vital drugs for people around the globe. In the case of COVID, our pharmaceutical companies have risen to the challenge and have developed vaccines in less than a year. These vaccines will play a critical role in allowing life to get back to normal for most Americans. In addition to the quick development of the vaccines, manufacturers were ready to go as soon as they had FDA approval. As a result, more than half the population has gotten at least one dose of the vaccine in roughly four months. The incredible effort it took to accomplish that should not be overlooked. Pharmaceutical companies have taken a beating in the media for the last several years over drug pricing and accessibility, and in response, state legislatures have supported bad policies like price controls and importing drugs from Canada. But the current pandemic shows us the importance of innovation in this area and why investment in pharmaceutical innovation is vital to the health and safety of Americans.