American pharma industry spends record amount lobbying Washington

A lobbying disclosure form filed by The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) reveals the leading industry trade body spent about a third more lobbying Washington DC last year, compared with 2016.

The group spent $25.4 million during President Trump’s first year in office, compared with $20 million the year before. In 2014, PhRMA spent $16.5 million on lobbying.

Much of the increase has been attributed to hardened rhetoric from the incoming administration at the start of the year around drug pricing and practices in the industry.