Greenville Reporter

Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., alongside Congressmen Don Davis (D-NC) and Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), has introduced the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act. This legislation aims to address the small molecule "pill penalty" in the Inflation Reduction Act and ensure continued investments in research and development (R&D) for small molecule medicines.

According to Congressman Murphy, small molecule drugs play a crucial role in treating conditions such as cancer and neurological diseases. He states, "The IRA's price-fixing scheme shifts research and development away from these life-saving medications, ultimately leaving patients with fewer treatment options." He emphasizes the importance of American innovation in saving lives and making progress towards eradicating cancer, and criticizes proposals like the "pill penalty" for hindering efforts to lower drug costs and impede access to life-saving treatments for those most in need.

Congressman Don Davis echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the need to support the development of critical and life-sustaining medical treatments. He believes that access to high-quality and innovative healthcare should remain within reach for vulnerable patients.

Chairman Brett Guthrie highlights the revolutionary potential of healthcare innovation in the United States and the impact it has on patients and their families. He argues that Congress should incentivize investments in cutting-edge therapies rather than penalizing innovators. Chairman Guthrie believes that the EPIC Act will ensure life-saving products reach patients without favoring certain companies or hindering progress. He expresses pride in leading this bipartisan bill alongside Congressmen Murphy and Davis and looks forward to working with his colleagues to advance it.

The EPIC Act seeks to address the price-fixing model under the Inflation Reduction Act, which currently allows small molecule drugs to be eligible for the "Medicare Drug Price Negotiation" program seven years after FDA approval. This program includes a two-year negotiation period, and price control goes into effect at year nine. In contrast, biologics become eligible after 11 years, with price control taking effect at year 13.

The cost of bringing a new drug to market can range from several hundred million to several billion dollars. However, the ability to recoup losses during drug development is being reduced, causing many pharmaceutical companies to halt their pursuit of new cures. As a result, investments in R&D for small molecule medicines are declining, and clinical trials are being paused, adversely affecting patients with cancer and rare diseases.

A University of Chicago policy brief indicates that due to the disparity in timelines between small molecule drugs and biologics, approximately 188 fewer small molecule medicines will reach the market. This could lead to a loss of 116 million life-years.

The EPIC Act aims to address these challenges and ensure continued investments in small molecule drug innovation. It seeks to create a more favorable environment for pharmaceutical companies to develop life-saving medications, benefiting patients in need of critical therapies.

For more information, the bill can be viewed by following this link.