Real Stories, Real People
Patient Testimonies
Stunned by sticker shock at the pharmacy counter.
My name is Joanna Olson and I am from Beaverton, Oregon. At 85 years old, I am blessed to have quite good health aside from the occasional issue. One of my most recent issues was a blood clotting problem that was exacerbated during travel. Thankfully, it didn’t endanger my life, but I nearly fainted when […]
Patient Testimonies
U.S. Taxpayers Fuel Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine
BY DAVID MITCHELL AND SARAH KAMINER BOURLAND As the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. surges past 1 million, the invention of a vaccine is the key to bringing a halt to the pandemic. One of the most promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates comes from Moderna Therapeutics. Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine was the first to enter […]
Patient Testimonies
My name is Rachel, I am 24 years old, and I am from Pittsburgh, PA. I live with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) called Crohn’s disease. For over 15 years, I have been on numerous medications, had countless tests, and survived two bowel resections. But this is minor compared to the impending anxiety that comes […]
Patient Testimonies
A Not-For-Profit Vaccine From Johnson & Johnson? Not so fast.
BY DAVID MITCHELL, CANCER PATIENT AND FOUNDER, PATIENTS FOR AFFORDABLE DRUGS Ronald Reagan made an old Russian proverb famous when he said, “Trust but verify.” It’s good advice — especially when talking about Johnson & Johnson (J&J), the world’s largest health care company with a record of unethical marketing and price gouging. J&J and its […]
Patient Testimonies
My name is Dirk Last and I am a full-time college student from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have been type 1 diabetic for 19 years now. I’ll be 24 in April, and I’m terrified of being kicked off of my parents’ insurance when I turn 26 –– and what that will mean for the price of […]
Patient Testimonies
My name is Jayme Thode and I am from Taftsville, Vermont. I am disabled and live with multiple health problems. I take over 30 medications a day, not including antibiotics and other meds I need during the month for acute issues. It’s just awful. I spend a good amount of my disability money to pay […]
Patient Testimonies
COVID-19: Why Drug Corporations didn't invest in vaccines until a global pandemic
by DAVID MITCHELL AND BEN WAKANA As the COVID-19 crisis grows, Big Pharma is trying to position itself as the key to ending this pandemic. But drug corporations have been uninterested in fighting infectious diseases for decades. In this blog, we examine pharma’s deep disinterest in combating infectious diseases and why drug corporations are suddenly […]
Patient Testimonies
My name is Mary Combellick and I am a grandmother and retiree living in Gettysburg, South Dakota. I wanted to share with you today the story of my struggles to afford my diabetes medication. I have had diabetes since 2006, and it has completely altered my life. My doctor prescribed me a number of diabetes […]