US Government , Facing Lawsuit Over , Drug Price Negotiation Program.<br />On June 6, Merck announced a lawsuit against the <br />United States arguing that the Inflation Reduction <br />Act violates both the Fifth and First Amendments.<br />NBC reports that Merck is seeking <br />an injunction of the Inflation Reduction <br />Act's drug price negotiation program.<br />The drugmaker argues that the program <br />would force the company to negotiate <br />prices for drugs at below market rates.<br />NBC reports that people in <br />the U.S. pay more for medication <br />than any other country in the world.<br />NBC reports that people in <br />the U.S. pay more for medication <br />than any other country in the world.<br />The pharmaceutical industry has argued that resulting <br />loss of profits from the new law would force them <br />to halt the development of new treatments.<br />The pharmaceutical industry has argued that resulting <br />loss of profits from the new law would force them <br />to halt the development of new treatments.<br />The IRA uses severe penalties to <br />requisition medicines while refusing <br />to pay their fair value—and then coerces <br />manufacturers to smile, play along, <br />and pretend it is all part of <br />a ‘fair’ and voluntary exchange, Merck statement, via NBC.<br />The IRA uses severe penalties to <br />requisition medicines while refusing <br />to pay their fair value—and then coerces <br />manufacturers to smile, play along, <br />and pretend it is all part of <br />a ‘fair’ and voluntary exchange, Merck statement, via NBC.<br />The new laws would require written agreements conceding <br />that the prices are fair, which Merck argues would <br />violate the company's First Amendment protections.<br />The new laws would require written agreements conceding <br />that the prices are fair, which Merck argues would <br />violate the company's First Amendment protections.<br />NBC reports that the first Medicare drug price <br />negotiation is scheduled to start in September.<br />New prices on what the CMS identifies as the ten <br />most costly drugs would go into effect in 2026.<br />According to NBC, those price changes <br />are estimated to cut industry sales <br />by $4.8 billion in the first year alone
