Senator Bernie Sanders Intensifies Campaign Against Big Pharma Amidst Drug Pricing Debates
May 12, 2025
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has long positioned himself as a staunch critic of the pharmaceutical industry’s pricing practices. In recent years, he has intensified his efforts to address the high cost of prescription drugs in the United States, advocating for policies aimed at making medications more affordable for all Americans.(Senator Bernie Sanders)
Advocacy for Lower Drug Prices
Sanders has consistently highlighted the disparity between drug prices in the U.S. and other countries. In a Senate Health Committee hearing, he questioned the CEOs of major pharmaceutical companies about why their medicines cost significantly more in the U.S. compared to other nations. “The overwhelming beneficiary of high drug prices in America is the pharmaceutical industry,” Sanders stated during the hearing .(Senator Bernie Sanders)
He has also condemned pharmaceutical companies for charging American consumers the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, pointing out that the top three pharmaceutical companies made a combined $45 billion in profits in a single year .(Senator Bernie Sanders)
Response to Executive Actions
In light of recent executive actions aimed at reducing prescription drug prices, Sanders has expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of such measures. He has urged for more comprehensive reforms that would allow the government to negotiate drug prices directly, a move he believes would lead to substantial savings for American patients .
Focus on Specific Medications
Sanders has also targeted specific high-cost medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, criticizing their manufacturers for setting exorbitant prices in the U.S. market. He has called for these companies to lower their prices, emphasizing the financial strain such costs place on American consumers .(The Guardian)
Conclusion
Senator Sanders continues to advocate for policies aimed at reducing prescription drug prices in the United States. His efforts focus on increasing transparency, allowing government negotiation of drug prices, and holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for pricing practices that he views as exploitative.
Sources:
- Sanders grills drug company CEOs over high prices in hearing
- Sanders Condemns Price Gouging by Drug Companies
- Bernie Sanders Attacks Trump on Big Pharma — “America First?”
- Sanders targets ‘unacceptable’ price of weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy(Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Bernie Sanders, 2Paragraphs, The Guardian)