Recently, we received some questions on Twitter about the Modernizing Our Drug and Diagnostics Evaluation and Regulatory Network (MODDERN) Cures Act. As a bipartisan, patient-centered approach, the MODDERN Cures Act would encourage the development of new, targeted treatments and cures by modernizing the U.S. regulatory system.

Over 40% of the U.S. population, more than 133 million Americans, live with a long-term illness or disability. Yet, for too many, no treatments or cures exist. Studies have shown that existing treatments and medicines may work for only 50-75% of patients. The MODDERN Cures Act would speed the development of new and better treatments for patients with chronic diseases and disabilities. With 1.7 million deaths attributed to chronic conditions each year, it’s time to take action.

The bill is expected to be introduced soon, and we look forward to talking through some of the details at that time. Until then, we encourage you to check out our blog, MODDERN Cures: Who, What, Where?, and look for more information from the Campaign for Modern Medicines and the National Health Council.

Yesterday, President Obama announced that Washington, D.C. would host the first round of the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks next month. Over the next 18-24 months, the TTIP negotiations will address a broad range of bilateral trade and investment policies, as well as global issues of common interest. With the right set of principles, the TTIP promises to boost economic growth and access to innovative medicines on both sides of the Atlantic.

As my colleague in the European Union, Liam English wrote in a blog earlier this week, “TTIP should set ambitious standards for pharmaceuticals in the fields of regulatory harmonisation, intellectual property protection and enforcement, and market access.” While we may disagree about the spelling of harmonization, we couldn’t agree more about the need for greater international collaboration in these areas.

• Greater collaboration and harmonization between the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can reduce unnecessary duplication and pave the way for the development of global standards.
• High standards for intellectual property protection and enforcement create vital incentives for the development of innovative medicines that meet patients' needs.
• The mechanisms that affect market access, such as pricing and reimbursement systems, must reflect the value of the R&D process help create a stable and predictable environment. This stability enables innovation to flourish and the biopharmaceutical industry to continue to bring new medicines to patients.

With ambitious standards for regulatory harmonization, IP protection and enforcement, and market access, the TTIP can help provide a benchmark for future trade agreements. These standards could ensure rapid access to innovative new medicines for patients, while supporting the 1.2 million highly skilled jobs directly provided by the innovative pharmaceutical industry in the transatlantic economy. If done right, TTIP can benefit patients and the economy. It’s a win-win.

With Father’s Day just a couple days away, it’s a perfect time to recognize Men’s Health Week. Today’s LinkPad looks at how organizations and individuals throughout the health care space have lent their voice to generate awareness about issues that affect men’s health.

• Are you blue? Men’s Health Network asked supporters to wear blue to generate awareness about men’s health issues.
• Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius’statement on National Men’s Health Week and Father’s Day focuses on the position of a father as a health role model.
• This week, HealthyWomen and Men’s Health Network announced a partnership to empower consumers and health care professionals to take a proactive role in their health and that of their families.

Men’s Health Week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. Fathers represent health care role models for their children. Improving men’s health means improving family health—and that means a healthier, happier world. Happy Father’s Day!

Tuesday evening I had the honor to attend the Project HOPE Gala in New York City, of which Lilly was a key sponsor. The event brought together supporters of this great organization to honor the achievements of Project HOPE and its phenomenal volunteers, and, yes, to raise money to continue its critical mission.

The night was a success by every measure. And being in the presence of Project HOPE president and CEO Dr. John Howe and his team is always inspiring.

Project HOPE and Lilly have had a fruitful relationship for more than 50 years. During the gala, we unveiled a new video highlighting our work to improve diabetes and hypertension care for people living in the informal settlement of Zandspruit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The video shows the important work being done there through the Lilly NCD Partnership, including when 10 Lilly employees recently spent two weeks volunteering at the site through our Connecting Hearts Abroad program.

Watch it. Share it. And learn more about Project HOPE.

It may not be four letters, but “Tax” can be a dirty word in Washington. The last overhaul of the corporate tax policy occurred in the mid-1980’s, leaving American businesses working under an antiquated code that impedes business growth, chokes job creation, and hinders U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace. It’s time to update these policies to foster an environment that supports U.S. innovation.

With over 70,000 pages and 4,500 modifications, it’s an understatement to call the U.S. tax code “complex.” The U.S. holds the record for the highest corporate tax rate in the Western world at 39.1%. Since 1988, other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations cut corporate taxes by an average of 19 points. Over the same time period, the U.S. increased the tax rate—twice. The result has been devastating as companies continue to expand operations into those lower tax jurisdictions around the globe, thereby threatening American job and economic growth.

As countries grow more competitive and lower their tax rates, this effect will only become more pronounced. A comprehensive tax reform bill can stimulate business growth at home and help American businesses compete abroad. What would it take to bring the U.S. tax code up to speed?

1. Get Competitive: Establish a competitive corporate tax rate

Politicians from both sides of the aisle have expressed support for lowering the corporate tax rate. Reducing the corporate tax rate by just 1 point could generate 0.4-0.6% increase in GDP within a year.

2. Keep it Simple: Streamline the corporate tax code

Streamlining the corporate tax code would reduce the financial burden of compliance, freeing capital for productive investment, and eliminating political carve-outs.

3. Support U.S.-based Companies: End double taxing profits earned by American companies in foreign markets

The United States is the only G-8 country to tax the foreign earnings of its companies. This means that U.S.-based businesses end up getting taxed twice — once at the foreign rate, then again when earnings come back to the states. Ending the practice of double taxation would encourage the repatriation of funds, fueling U.S. economic growth.

Current U.S. tax policies place American companies at a disadvantage compared to their foreign counterparts. Last week, the Alliance for Competitive Taxation launched an effort to advocate for bipartisan, comprehensive tax reform. ACT members believe that the United States needs a modern tax code that unleashes the power of America's economy to create jobs, increase growth, encourage businesses to invest in the U.S., and let American companies – large and small – compete in today's global economy. Protecting American competitiveness is a nonpartisan issue, and it’s time to take the necessary steps to make sure American companies don’t fall behind.

Today's guest blog is from Rob Friedman, senior director of executive communications at Lilly. Rob describes his first-hand encounter with people afflicted with tuberculosis in poverty-stricken areas of South Africa. This is the first of two blogs underscoring the importance of our corporate responsibility efforts alongside partners in economically challenged areas of the world. The second blog will appear next week.

I saw the face of death today.

We were at the Fort Grey TB hospital, outside a squatter camp in East London, South Africa. I’d never seen a squatter camp—a kaleidoscope of makeshift shacks made of every material imaginable—scrap metal, plastic, wood, cardboard, rocks, bricks, mud. No electricity or sewers, few toilets, little-to-no clean drinking water. Piles of garbage border the camp. Some 30,000 people survive there.

At the hospital entrance, we were stopped by a gate with armed guards. They took down the serial numbers of our computers, to make sure when we left we wouldn’t be taking anything extra.

We were there to see firsthand Lilly’s work on multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, known as MDR-TB, and to shoot video of the hospital, staff, and patients to help illustrate what we do.

Long, low concrete buildings served as wards, divided by sexes. We wore surgical masks, but I’ll admit to some anxiety—the thought occurred that since TB is airborne, I had a better chance of contracting it than HIV.

We interviewed several men; some were from as far as 700 kilometers­­—more than 400 miles—away. If the patient were the main breadwinner, it was very dislocating for the family. But even more so for the patients, as families were not allowed to visit.

Then we entered the women’s ward and the camera crew set up. This always feels intrusive, but it’s the only way to capture the human voices and stories.

A volunteer brought over a patient, who sat in a plastic chair in front of the camera. Her name was Phumla. She was 28—I’d have guessed 19 or 20—small and thin, with tight braids and luminous, brown eyes. That’s all we could see, because the rest of her face was hidden behind a mask to prevent further spread of this dreaded, preventable disease.

Phumla and her sister were first admitted to the hospital three years before with TB, but both had responded to treatment and were sent home. Phumla was a model patient and strictly adhered to her difficult treatment regimen. Her sister, though, did not follow through on her prescribed treatment, and her disease evolved into XDR-TB—extremely difficult to treat—and Phumla contracted the XDR form from her.

Both sisters were readmitted to the hospital three months ago. We interviewed Phumla on Friday. Her sister had died on Tuesday.

'I want to be cured. I want to go home.'

Phumla was devastated by the loss. Her answers to the interviewer’s questions were hopeful, but her eyes didn't show hope. Her English was unsure, but when she spoke Xhosa—her native tongue—she spoke with authority. When the interviewer asked her what she wished for, however, her English was unmistakable: "I want to be cured. I want to go home." 

I didn't hear what she said next, because I was crying. My older daughter turns 27 this summer.

I won’t downplay the pain of this experience or how overwhelming the problems seem, but I take comfort from the resolve of the hospital’s staff and volunteers to beat this disease and help patients. The hospital’s doctor and manager is passionate and determined. And she sees progress. When the clinic first opened, she said, "They were dying by the thousands," due to tests that took six-to-eight weeks to provide results and long waiting lists. "Now, we get results within 48 hours, and two-to-four days after diagnosis, they are starting treatment."

What keeps her doing such difficult work? "Seeing someone who had arrived bedridden but was motivated to get better—then seeing them years later back in their community, healthy and strong. These are our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, colleagues—it could be us at any point. So I have a strong desire to see the burden of TB reduced."

I also take hope and pride in what Lilly is doing to help people like Phumla and reduce their number—attacking the problems from multiple angles with the help of global and local partners through the Lilly MDR-TB Partnership. While my first thought on seeing the enormity of the challenges of providing health care to the poor in South Africa was, "Where do you even start?" after seeing our work in action, I thought, "How can you not?"

I will never be the same.

Rob was part of a small team that traveled to South Africa in May to document and share stories about the Lilly MDR-TB Partnership, the Lilly NCD Partnership, and volunteers through our Connecting Hearts Abroad program. The patient named in this article, Phumla, approved sharing her story. Rob writes speeches for John Lechleiter, Ph.D., chairman, president, and CEO, who has long championed Lilly’s corporate responsibility efforts—which are increasingly linked to our core business of improving global health.

In Part II, scheduled for publication around June 19, Rob will look at rural and urban poverty and what Lilly and its partners are doing to provide care.

In India, 61 million people have diabetes. By 2030, that number is expected to drastically increase, with more than 100 million Indians likely to develop the disease. In fact, the International Diabetes Federation estimates that 9.2 percent of adults in India have diabetes, making its prevalence second to that in China.

Responding to the country’s growing epidemic, Lilly India, in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Ministry of Health, hosted the inaugural National Non-Communicable Disease Summit last week in New Delhi.

Vice President for Asia Operations Jannie Oosthuizen and Managing Director of Lilly India Melt Van Der Spuy discuss the conference and first-of-their-kind initiatives taking place in the region.

The newly released white paper explores innovative approaches for diabetes prevention and management and highlights best practices and suggestions from a diverse range of experts, including stakeholders who participated in five roundtable forums in the state capitals. Van Der Spuy addressed the group and emphasized “Lilly’s ongoing commitment to the prevention and management of the disease as an essential element of fighting this growing epidemic.” Recommendations in the white paper are intended to strengthen the existing national policies and programs around diabetes management.

Here at Lilly, we are actively engaged in fighting NCDS – and diabetes specifically – not only through the medicines we make, but also through the Lilly NCD Partnership, in which the company is exploring new approaches to diabetes care in impoverished communities around the world. Lilly will also hold an upcoming NCD summit in South Africa as part of our partnership, continuing the momentum of last weekend’s NCD summit in India.

This week, 42 leading American businesses, including Lilly, announced the Alliance for Competitive Taxation (ACT), a new coalition for comprehensive tax reform to encourage economic growth, spur job creation, and enhance the ability for the U.S. to compete in the global economy. Today’s LinkPad takes a broader look at the latest conversations on corporate tax reform.

• On the ACT on Tax Reform blog, the coalition makes the case for pro-growth tax reform, emphasizing their commitment to working with policymakers on a bipartisan solution.
• The Business Roundtable’s Matthew Miller explores the importance of modernizing our tax system to strengthen the U.S. economy.
• Bloomberg Television’s “Street Smart” talks with ACT economic adviser, Laura Tyson on how a corporate tax plan can bring U.S. cash back home.
• For the Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire, John D. McKinnon explains how comprehensive tax reform benefits all businesses—big and small.

For more information on the need for comprehensive tax reform, check out the ACT website and follow them on Twitter @ACTonTaxReform.

Today's guest blog comes from Jan Lundberg, Ph.D., executive vice president, science and technology and president, Lilly Research Laboratories

Increased collaboration and new business models are great drivers of innovation. Lilly has a long history of creating partnership models designed to bring innovation to the patients who are waiting. The value of this approach was realized more than 90 years ago when we collaborated with Dr. Frederick Banting and Charles Best, two academics at the University of Toronto, to make the first commercially-available insulin for patients with diabetes. At that time, the only known way to keep these patients from dying of excess blood sugar was to put them on a near-starvation diet.

Later, a collaborative research effort with Edward C. Taylor of Princeton University and Lilly yielded the discovery and development of a novel oncology medicine for the treatment of patients suffering with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer...

The number of commas and zeros in Washington D.C. budget talks can leave you dizzy, but it’s more than Monopoly money. The decisions lawmakers face in the health policy arena affect the lives of millions of Americans every single day. Programs like the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit exemplify investments in health that bring long-term, sustainable cost savings to the entire health system. By improving access to medicines, Part D reduces one of the barriers preventing older and disabled Americans from adhering to their medication program. A recent study found that improved adherence connected to expanded drug coverage through Part D reduces medical expenditures by $2.6 billion each year.

$2.6 billion is a huge number. To put that into a non-healthcare perspective, look at all of the things you can do with that kind of savings...

In case you missed it, an article appeared Tuesday in the Indianapolis Business Journal raising concerns about the newly unveiled Indiana Biosciences Research Institute. The article compares the creation of IBRI to an institute that formed in Michigan in 1981. The Michigan Biotechnology Institute failed to meet its goals, which generated pessimism about IBRI in the IBJ article.

The article cites Jack Pincus, a life sciences consultant in Indianapolis who was vice president of business development for the Michigan institute from 1986 to 1992. Mr. Pincus says he is skeptical of IBRI’s potential to follow through on its goals. Some of the challenges and comparisons raised in the article need to be addressed.

Comparing IBRI to an institution that formed more than three decades ago is an unfair juxtaposition. We believe, as does any industry worth its salt, that innovation and learning advance over time. A good example is Henry Ford. The well-known inventor of the innovative assembly line, in fact, failed several times before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company.  Fortunately, automobiles — along with other technology, knowledge and infrastructure — have advanced since 1981. Likewise, our understanding and capabilities around creating biosciences institutes are better today than they were in 1982...

Even for those of us within the health care industry, health policy can often sound abstract and complicated. Take, for instance, the MODDERN (Modernizing Our Drug and Diagnostic Evaluation and Regulatory Network) Cures Act. In technical terms, this bill updates patent law to shift the incentive structure for investments in innovation. These changes will make it more attractive for companies to invest in areas such as personalized medicines or those that treat rare diseases. But what does that really mean?

To demystify the policy lingo, here’s a MODDERN break down that demonstrates how seemingly-complex legislation can make all the difference to patients.

• What the MODDERN Cures Act is: It’s a policy designed to help patients suffering from rare diseases, whose treatments and cures are developed and approved at a slower pace than those for the more common chronic diseases. MODDERN Cures would transform the development and approval process for new, safe medicines that realize unmet medical needs –these drugs could reach the market at a faster pace...

Across Lilly, individuals and organizations collectively are doing their part to lessen the company’s impact on the environment.

Our employees recently celebrated Earth Week by participating in a series of activities designed to educate them about the company’s energy, waste, and water reduction goals, encourage sustainable behaviors, and provide opportunities to give back.

These efforts yielded positive results. For example, in one week alone:

• 3,588 pounds of paper employees brought from home were recycled at our Indianapolis campuses.

• Nearly 21,000 pounds of electronics were recycled as Lilly teamed up with RecycleForce to give employees the opportunity to dispose of unwanted electronic waste in a safe and environmentally conscious way...

Today's guest blog is written by Richard Gaynor, M.D., vice president, product development and medical affairs for Lilly Oncology.

The annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) began on Friday in Chicago. I always admire the engineering of the pedestrian and car bridges that cross the rivers here. And, this year, I appreciate the parallel to ASCO’s theme of “Building Bridges to Conquer Cancer.”

To build these bridges, the entire cancer community –academia, patients, advocates, regulators and industry – need to come together to enhance the knowledge that provides us the advancements we need to fight cancer. With these bridges, we take steps towards finding better clinical solutions for patients and physicians by designing better clinical trials, testing novel combinations of new and established medicines, and developing even more tailored treatments...

Earlier this week, World Anti-Counterfeiting Day placed the spotlight on counterfeit medicines and the growing threat they posed to public health. On LillyPad, we talked about Lilly’s efforts and partnerships to protect patients against fake, falsified, and substandard medicines. Today’s LinkPad takes it one step further by looking at the global conversation on anti-counterfeiting...

Leaders from several Indiana companies, universities and state government – including Governor Mike Pence – unveiled the creation of the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute this morning during a press conference at our headquarters in Indianapolis. The institute will break down silos and catapult Indiana into a true leadership role among life sciences hubs.

According to Bart Peterson, who oversees corporate affairs at Lilly, “The Institute will help us nurture our partnerships across the country and develop more intellectual capital here in Indiana — allowing us to keep more research dollars in the state, attract more federal research funds, and draw top scientific minds to feed our research pipeline and local economies.”

You can read more about the initiative in the IBRI press release and Lilly's statement...

James E. Delaney is president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Delaney graduated from the University of Southern California School of Medicine PA program in 1975 and has more than 36 years of experience as a PA. He worked for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California in clinical and multiple administrative roles until 2009, when he moved to Dallas, Texas, to work in the Department of Orthopeadic Surgery at the University of Texas-Southwestern. He served two terms as president of the California Academy of Physician Assistants before his election to the AAPA Board of Directors in 2007.

This week, Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius emphasized the essential value of PAs while speaking before a general session at the American Academy of Physician Assistants’ (AAPA) 41st Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. She noted that all healthcare providers, including PAs, will play a critical role in meeting the needs of millions of new patients, especially those living in underserved communities...

Last week, the WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s network gathered in D.C. with a simple mission: connect a group of powerful and creative women to strengthen the existing national Alzheimer’s strategy and create a more “bold and aggressive” plan for the prevention and treatment of the disease. The three-day event wrapped up with a visit to Capitol Hill where the women met with, among others, Senator Susan Collins. Senator Collins serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Special Committee Aging, and shares a deep personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the most overlooked aspects of Alzheimer’s disease is its tremendous impact on women. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that nearly two-thirds of American’s with Alzheimer’s are women, and 60% of informal caregivers to people suffering from Alzheimer’s are women. The immense personal burden coupled with the financial burden on families brought this group of women together to seek a cure...

Last week, the GBCHealth Annual Conference brought together global leaders from the private and public sectors to strengthen business engagement on the world’s pressing health challenges. This year’s conference in New York focused on how business can better align its efforts with the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals to drive action and results.

Dr. Evan Lee, Vice President of Global Health Programs and Access at Eli Lilly and Company, joined this group of thought-leaders to participate in a conference panel session, From Dialogue to Action: How Countries are Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases After the U.N. High-Level Meeting...

Our hearts go out to the victims of last week’s devastating tornado that injured 250 and killed 24 in Moore, Oklahoma.

The Lilly Foundation is matching Lilly U.S. employees’ donations of $25 or more to the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army. In addition to monetary contributions, Lilly is also working in partnership with Heart to Heart and Direct Relief to donate insulin to victims in need.

The tornado ripped through the small Oklahoma town on Monday, May 20, destroying whole neighborhoods, leveling schools and greatly damaging the community’s only hospital. Shortly after, President Obama issued a federal disaster declaration for the state of Oklahoma.

We wish the entire community strength and healing.

We’re back after the long weekend and Washington, D.C. feels ready to spring to action—just in time for World Anti-Counterfeiting Day. Pharmaceutical counterfeiting draws criminals in with its potential for high profits with low risk. The emphasis placed on counterfeit medicines in developing countries contributes to the common misperception that the problem is isolated to these regions. In fact, fake, substandard, and falsified medicines are a growing problem in nearly every country in the world.

Despite the huge public health threat, counterfeiters are rarely prosecuted. With the increased anonymity afforded by the Internet, counterfeiters continue to adopt technologically savvy means to market their illegitimate products to patients. One report found that of approximately 9,000 websites delivering medications to U.S. patients, 96% are non compliant with U.S. law. These rogue pharmacies pose a serious threat to unsuspecting individuals looking to purchase their medications on the Internet...

Today's guest blog comes from Tracy Sims, Senior Advisor for Lilly's global corporate responsibility programs.

Lilly is proud to have participated in the 3^rd FSG Global Shared Value Leadership Summit held May 23 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The event brought together government, non-government, and corporate thought leaders to discuss cutting-edge approaches that leverage the shared value concept to better align business practices with pressing social needs.

Major social issues such as improved health outcomes, access to nutrition, and economic development have made notable advances over the last decade. However, there is yet a massive gap in many areas of the human condition, and the greatest negative impact is felt the most by those who have the least power to remedy them. Government programs, philanthropy, and corporate responsibility have all had positive impact, but to substantially and sustainably make change on major social issues shared value – which leverages the best aspects of capitalism – must lead the way...

What a busy week in Peru! Today concludes the latest round of negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. Since 2011, TPP has aided the United States in our active pursuit of stronger trade relationships with countries in the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. A 21^st century trade agreement holds the potential for enhancing trade and investment among all partners, sparking economic growth and development, and supporting future innovation. Realizing these benefits requires pursuing the right kind of standards, particularly in the area of intellectual property...

Today's guest blog comes from Lilly's Vice President of Global Health Programs and Access, Dr. Evan Lee. 

It is a busy week in Geneva with a multitude of delegates and other groups gathered for the 66^th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization. Among the many issues on the agenda, attendees will be reviewing proposed global targets to reduce rates of leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as an action plan for mental health. Targets are a great way to encourage countries to step up efforts against diseases that badly strain health care systems and hamper economic development. With NCDs claiming 35 million lives each year, we should certainly be driving our work with a sense of urgency and purpose...

Legislation for a national pharmaceutical track-and-trace system gained steam on the Hill this week. On Friday, the House Energy and Commerce committee approved its version of the track-and-trace legislation, H.R. 1919. Yesterday, right on the heels of the House, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved their own version of the legislation, S. 957, and then combined it with new compounding legislation. 

Each bill aims to create an interoperable, electronic, unit-level tracing system for the U.S. drug supply chain aimed at protecting people from fake medicines, recalls, and stolen or expired medicines. Both bills seek to accomplish this goal in a step-wise and scalable manner to ensure it will be implemented by different parts of the supply chain in staggered way. The work begins immediately and eventually will lead to a full track and trace system with roles for each stakeholder in the supply chain, from manufacturers that make the drugs to the pharmacists that dispense them to patients...

Medicare Part D currently provides over 35 million older Americans improved access to their prescription medications. Yesterday, the Senate Special Committee on Aging brought together policy experts to discuss Medicare Part D’s performance in the decade since it became law. Reflecting back on the last 10 years, it becomes clear that Part D works. Medicare Part D provides beneficiaries with quality, cost-effective care and helps to improve the sustainability of the entire health care system.

Ranking Member Susan M. Collins noted that the Part D program is “extremely popular and working very well.” According to recent surveys, an astonishing 94% of Part D enrollees say they are satisfied with their coverage, and 95% feel confident that their coverage meets their needs. However, Senator Collins cited concerns that a lack of education and awareness of Part D may lead older Americans to choose plans that do not best suit their lifestyles...

Today's guest blog is from Amy Sousa, Communication Director for Lilly's emerging markets business area. Amy wrote this blog from Zandspruit, South Africa, where she is currently volunteering as part of our Connecting Hearts Abroad program. A version of this blog was originally featured on Project Hope's In the Field blog. Project Hope is one of our partner organizations in the Lilly NCD Partnership.

Like a lot of volunteers, I did my research ahead of time. On the history, the climate, the healthcare system, the greatest challenges facing the poor.

“I came open,” said one of my fellow volunteers. “Open to help, to do what I need to do, open to the experience...

Today's blog comes from Julie Herrick Williams, manager of communications for Lilly Diabetes. Julie wrote this blog from Zandspruit, South Africa, where she is currently volunteering as part of our Connecting Hearts Abroad program. A version of this blog was originally featured on Project Hope’s In the Field blog. Project Hope is one of our partner organizations in the Lilly NCD Partnership.

 I came to the Project HOPE Centre in South Africa thinking that I would not have much in common with the people I would meet here. How could I? We live half a world and an equator apart. In less than a week on the ground, everything’s changed...

As Director for External Relations at Eli Lilly and Company, Yolanda Johnson-Moton works to enhance Lilly’s partnerships with US external stakeholders. Currently, Yolanda is working on developing medical student and resident partnership programs between Lilly USA and the academic medical community.

Patients are at the center of everything we do at Lilly. To truly deliver great health outcomes for patients, we must have a deep understanding of their medical needs. The many health care providers working at Lilly, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists, came here to fulfill their desire to serve patients on a broad scale.

Throughout Lilly, a diverse team of medical professionals play a vital role in bringing new and innovative medicines to patients. They bring their clinical experience and passion for patient care to drug discovery and development, as highlighted by a new video released today by the company...

Martha Rinker, is the Chief Advocacy Officer for the American Association of Diabetes Educators. AADE Advocacy is responsible for influencing the future of diabetes education and the role of the diabetes educator in health care; advocating for policies that improve access to diabetes self-management training (DSMT) and maintaining a national network of diabetes educators to support activities that affect persons with diabetes and public policy related to diabetes education and care.

On Monday May 20, 2013 the American Association of Diabetes Educators and its members will be in Washington, DC for a two-day advocacy training and visit with Members of Congress. Our event will cover a variety of topics on the fiscal and health implications associated with diabetes and legislation designed to address them—but most importantly giving our members the necessary tools to be effective advocates...

Gina Kelly Rice, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR). SWHR, a national non-profit organization based in Washington D.C., is the thought leader in research on biological differences in disease, and is dedicated to transforming women’s health through science, advocacy and education.

We don’t have to look back very far at all, since prior to 1990, women were routinely not included, if not outright prohibited, in medical research studies, and no one thought about possible differences between men and women, other than reproductive issues.

Part of the reason was to protect women during their reproductive years, but the other reason was that scientists believed women and men to be biologically the same.Clinical trials for drugs and devices included mostly men, and it was assumed that the results could be applied to both men and women...

Today's guest blog was written by Kim Cantor, Senior Director, Public Policy and Government Relations of the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.

What is lupus? This is a question that I get asked often working for the Lupus Foundation of America. Lupus is a mysterious and devastating disease that ravages different parts of the body and has no known cause and no known cure.

The disease is more pervasive and more severe than people think, and has an impact that the public doesn’t realize. A recent survey revealed nearly three-fourths of Americans ages 18 to 34 – those at the highest risk for lupus – have never heard of lupus or know little or nothing about lupus beyond its name...

We’re shaking things up on this week’s LinkPad with a Throwback Thursday! Today, we’re looking at the policies that enable innovation and bring those innovations to the patients who need them most.

• 1983: The Orphan Drug Act passed, encouraging the development of new medicines and treatments for rare diseases. Since then, the number of approved medicines for rare diseases has risen dramatically.
• 1984: The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, colloquially known as the Hatch-Waxman Act, preserved financial incentives for the research and development of innovative medicines, while making room for the modern U.S. generics market to emerge. Since Hatch-Waxman there has been a 25-30% reduction in the prices of medicine and over $193 billion in cost savings...

Today’s guest blog was written by Helen H. Miller, LCSW, ACSW, Chief Executive Officer of CancerCare. Ms. Miller has an extensive background directing cancer research prevention and wellness programs for major cancer centers.

Founded in 1944, CancerCare is one of the country’s largest cancer support organizations reaching more than 1,000,000 people affected by cancer each year. Our professional support services help people cope with the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer.

In my three decades practicing clinical and executive management in social service settings, I’ve witnessed many breakthroughs in treatment leading to better prognoses for people with cancer. Still, oncology social workers report that clients feel their health care team has not adequately addressed their emotional and practical concerns...

Tomorrow, the Government of Peru will host stakeholders from around the world during the 17^thround of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP provides an opportunity to strengthen U.S. trade relationships in one of the most robust, dynamic regions in the world. The White House has cited the TPP’s potential to create a truly 21^st century trade agreement. But what does that really mean? When we talk about a 21^st century trade agreement and gold-standard intellectual property protections, it may sound like science fiction, but it has very real implications for the United States and partner countries...

This week, the Global Intellectual Property Center named its 2013 IP Champions. In addition to naming three awardees who excelled in their advocacy for IP protection, the event focused on several law enforcement cases that made critical strides in combating counterfeits. Today’s LinkPad highlights three cases are particularly relevant to the healthcare field...

Today’s guest blog comes from Amy Sousa, Director of Communications for Lilly’s emerging markets business. Amy wrote this blog from Zandspruit, South Africa, where she is currently volunteering as a part of our Connecting Hearts Abroad program.

Innovation, in its traditional form, is hard to find in the Johannesburg, South Africa township of Zandspruit, where we launched the Lilly NCD Partnership last year with our partner, Project HOPE . Most homes are made from irregular cuts of corrugated metal. Roofs are held down by stones. Sewage seeps through streets that are criss-crossed with illegally connected electrical wires.

It’s in this environment – and in others like it in Brazil, India, and Mexico – that the Lilly NCD Partnership hopes to find an innovative and cost-effective model for improving the health of patients through better diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of chronic diseases, especially diabetes. Ultimately, we hope these evidence-based models can be replicated and scaled up by governments around the world...

Today’s blog is written by Sarah Butler, MS, RN, CDE, NCSN, Director of Diabetes and Nursing Education; Angela Shubert, Assistant Director of Government Affairs; and Nichole Bobo, MSN, RN, Director of Nursing Education, at the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). NASN advances the specialty practice of school nursing to improve the health and academic success of all students.

Today, May 8, is National School Nurse Day, a time when we celebrate and honor the more than 74,000 school nurses who make a difference in the lives of children every day. School nurses care for students and communities, serving a critical role in improving public health and promoting students’ academic success for more than 110 years. Research shows that healthier students are better learners. Indeed, school nurses contribute to their communities by helping students stay healthy, in school, and ready to learn, and keeping parents and families at work...

During a panel on digital advocacy at this year’s BIO International Convention, I made a statement that raised some eyebrows, “Innovations don’t matter if patients don’t have access to them.” Ensuring that patients have access to the innovative medicines that improve health and wellness should remain a top priority among health stakeholders. In particular, removing access barriers helps patients better adhere to their medical treatment. Medication adherence provides critical support for a healthy, active lifestyle, but far too often, patients do not take their medications as recommended. This week’s LinkPad looks at recent efforts to help support policies that improve access to medications and treatment adherence...

Around the world, illegitimate drugs, whether fake, falsified, or substandard, pose a significant threat to patients. While many think of illegitimate drugs as a problem unique to developing countries, over the last few years, the United States has seen numerous incidences of these illegitimate medications making their way into the legitimate supply chain and into the hands of patients. Over the last few weeks, both the House and Senate have demonstrated strong commitments to strengthening our supply chain and protecting patients through the development of national track-and-trace standards.

In the Senate, Chairman Harkin, Ranking Member Alexander, and Senators Bennet and Burr submitted draft legislation to the Committee on Health, Education, and Pensions. In reference to the need for national track-and-trace standards, Senator Bennet remarked, “Over the past few years, we’ve had a record number of recalls and reports of tainted or ineffective drugs reaching our hospitals and drug store shelves. In fact, right now, we know more from a barcode on a gallon of milk than from a barcode on a bottle of pills, which could mean the difference between life and death.” This bipartisan move represents a promising step toward the kinds of standards necessary to ensure patients receive safe and effective medicines. However, the Senate isn’t the only side of Congress recognizing this critical need...

Last week, our CEO, John Lechleiter, wrote about the scourge that is Alzheimer's disease in Forbes. The blog speaks for itself, but there are a few important data points worth noting:

• Dementia now costs the U.S. alone up to $215 billion a year in medical care and other costs.
• According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 5 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer's. That includes 1 of every 8 Americans 65 and older.
• By 2050, 16 million Americans likely will have Alzheimer's, and costs in the U.S. could surpass $1 trillion.

The fact that Alzheimer's is an emerging health crisis is no big surprise...

Today’s guest blog comes from Ido Hadari, CEO of Treato. As an innovative brand intelligence service for pharmaceutical marketers and agencies, Treato Pharma provides real-time insights into patients’ opinions and attitudes, enabling them to understand competitive positioning, determine priorities, and enhance patient engagement. This post originally appeared on Treato’s Blog.

Earlier this month, I spent two days in San Diego attending the 55th annual PhRMA meeting. Listening to the industry’s leaders, innovators and researchers, these are some of the key challenges that pharma innovation will need to overcome over the coming years, affecting patients, physicians and industry as one...

Two years ago, Lilly and Disney Publishing Worldwide joined forces on a program that provides resources to families of children with diabetes. 

Now, the program is going global.

Lilly and Disney Publishing Worldwide announced today that the program is being expanded to 18 more countries, with books being translated and made available for children at various stages of diabetes...

I cannot imagine a better way to end the week of the BIO International Convention than with World IP Day! As Chair and Founder of the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations, Durhane Wong-Rieger said in a panel on intellectual property and trade earlier this week, despite the important role IP plays in bringing patients new medicines, many people outside of industry and lawyers don’t understand or engage on the impact of IP on innovation. This week’s LinkPad highlights recent conversations surrounding intellectual property, and the standards that will help to advance innovation and bring new medicines to patients...

Lilly celebrated National Volunteer Week by sending off the first of 200 volunteers of 2013 who will serve in impoverished communities around the world as part of Lilly’s Connecting Hearts Abroad program. Teams departed on Sunday for Lima, Peru, and will depart for Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, this weekend—with more soon to follow.

I had the opportunity to go to India through this program and it forever changed the way I look at the world, my job, even my family.

Through Connecting Hearts Abroad, we are not only helping people in need, we are growing as people and helping Lilly become a more globally aware and stronger company. It gets us out of the labs and out from behind our computers so that we can better understand and meet the diverse needs of patients and communities around the world...

In my recap blog from Day 2 of the BIO International Convention, I highlighted the use of big data in health care. A couple of the panelists and speaker noted that while big data provides immense opportunities, realizing its potential requires mechanisms for interpreting and acting on this new information.  As the third day of the Convention comes to a close, I find myself in the same situation as many of these researchers, confronted with extraordinary amount of new knowledge and looking for a way to make this information actionable...

My colleague, Femke Beumer, originally blogged on this topic for LillyPad E.U.

Last week, a delegation of ten Members of European Parliament gathered in Washington to lay down the political groundwork for the proposed EU-US trade deal. With formal negotiations kicking off in July, the delegation has already reported back saying that they find their US Congress counterparts in"an increasingly positive mood".

We're delighted to hear it. We've spoken before about our support for the agreement: if it bears fruit, the deal promises to improve the economic competitiveness of both partners, and more importantly, to help improve the health of patients everywhere. The prospect of what we could achieve if we have more convergence of our rules and standards is something that truly excites not just Lilly but the whole biopharmaceutical industry...

This morning, I had the pleasure of sitting on a panel with representatives from the Global Healthy Living Foundation, Men’s Health Network, and Edelman Public Relations to talk about two topics near and dear to my heart—advocacy and technology.

As I said on this morning’s panel, innovation doesn’t matter if patients don’t have access to it. While LillyPad provides an opportunity to discuss the Lilly perspective, in my role at the Campaign for Modern Medicines, I get a chance to work with individuals and advocates to engage with policymakers on issues that ultimately affect them and their loved ones.

Digital technology has transformed advocacy, bringing greater opportunities to individuals and organizations everywhere to make their message heard. As Nate Bailey of Edelman PR said, “Digital is not the end-all solution, but it’s a piece of the puzzle.” It’s not the technology itself that makes the difference—it’s the action it enables...

The world is almost polio free! Polio now exists in only three countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Thanks to the advocacy efforts of organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and ONE, the world is that much closer to completely eradicating this disease. Watch this powerful video from ONE.

The last time a child was paralyzed in the Americas was over 20 years ago. Lilly is proud to have played a role by helping manufacture the vaccine that enabled polio to be virtually eradicated in the United States by the early 1960s. Lilly’s role, including that of two special employees portrayed in the video below, is featured in a living history portrayal at the Indiana Historical Society...

“The right medicine for the right patient in the right dose at the right time.” No two patients are just alike, and with the advances in science and technology, soon medicine will no longer have to treat them alike. At the first day of the 2013 BIO International Convention, panelists representing a variety of stakeholders from around the world discussed personalized medicines and what it will take to make the promise of a healthier world a reality.

A personalized approach to medicine holds enormous potential benefits for patients and the health care system. However, as President of the Personalized Medicines Coalition, Stafford O’Kelly pointed out, regulatory systems, reimbursement processes, and privacy concerns pose significant barriers to the development of personalized medicines. In order to meet these challenges, O’Kelly stressed the importance of education and advocacy to create an environment that supports investment and innovation in this critical area...