The heads of Pfizer, Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi have agreed to testify at a Senate hearing on drug prices later this month.
Both Democrats and Republicans have intensified their critiques of the pharma industry in recent months, and have demanded answers about drug price increases. The call for a hearing in front of a Senate committee is just one of several measures lawmakers have made to explore ways to lower drug prices. In the last few months alone, members of Congress have launched a committee to investigate pricing policies for 12 major drug companies; floated a bill to start a government-run generics manufacturing company; and raised the possibility of mandating that companies disclose the full list price of drugs in TV ads.
Representatives from other companies — AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca — have also been invited to the Feb. 26 Senate hearing.
Read the Reuters report.