New PhRMA Ad Campaign Underscores Industry Commitment to Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit - "Now's The Time" For Congress to Act, Ad Proclaims

March 08, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 
March 8, 2002    

Washington, D.C. -- The nation’s top pharmaceutical trade association has launched an aggressive new television and print advertising campaign to underscore the industry’s unwavering commitment to a Medicare prescription drug benefit and to urge Congress to act on the issue this year.

The "Now’s the Time" campaign, which begins today, features a targeted "beltway rotation" of print and television ads which urge Congress to act this year on approving a Medicare prescription drug benefit that provides both a real choice of plans and access to the drugs seniors need. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) plans a similar national and local-level advertising push on its support of a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

"Passing a Medicare prescription drug benefit is an urgent national priority and remains the top priority for PhRMA. Our member companies believe Congress should act this year to pass a plan that gives seniors what they want: A real choice of plans and access to the best, state-of-the-art life-saving medicines that they need," said Christopher Molineaux, PhRMA’s Vice President for Public Affairs. "America’s pharmaceutical industry, through its commitment to continued innovation and its leadership in producing new life-saving medicines, is a key partner in providing the right kind of prescription drug benefit to our nation’s Medicare beneficiaries. America’s seniors deserve action this year on this important benefit upon which so many people depend – access to the best medicines that our companies can provide."

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. The industry invested more than $30 billion in 2001 in discovering and developing new medicines. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures.

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PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org/

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