March 20, 2023
Good morning ... It's a big hearing week on the Hill, so here's a look ahead at one of the Wednesday hearings that could get a little hot.
1 big thing: Everyone's mad at Moderna
Sanders talks to reporters outside the Senate chamber March 14. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Moderna CEO StĂ©phane Bancel is probably going to be pretty friendless this week when he testifies in front of the HELP Committee â a reflection of just how much the company's reputation has changed for the worse over the last couple of years, Caitlin Owens reports.
Between the lines: Even though Bancel will almost certainty be the target of bipartisan ire, Democrats and Republicans are generally mad at Moderna for different reasons.
The big picture: The hearing's title â "Taxpayers Paid Billions for It: So Why Would Moderna Consider Quadrupling the Price of the COVID Vaccine?" â leaves little question as to what Bernie Sanders' issue with the company is.
- âThe bottom line here is Moderna has received substantial amounts of federal support in developing and selling the vaccine," Sanders told Caitlin in a hallway interview.
- "The CEO of Moderna the last couple of years has increased his wealth by $5 billion. Others have done phenomenally well, and then they thank the taxpayers by wanting to quadruple the price of the drug,"
- He seemed confident that he wouldn't be alone in his frustration. "I would be surprised if all members of the committee were not upset about that," he added.
The backstory: Bancel told the Wall Street Journal this year that the company is considering charging $110 to $130 per dose once its government contract expires, but hasn't formally announced its price yet.
What they're saying: âI think this [concern] is bipartisan," said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, mentioning his own experience paying for a pricey drug. "We got to get a handle on this some way.â
- But ranking member Bill Cassidy said he's reserving judgment for now. âThey havenât announced their price yet.⊠Why donât we think about whatâs actually taking place? Try and have a little bit of understanding, is there a rationale?"
- "Itâs just something I have to understand a little bit more," he said.
Yes, but: The hearing comes as Republicans across the ideological spectrum raise all kinds of COVID vaccine-related questions, including whether the approval process was politicized and whether possible vaccine risks have been downplayed.
- Some, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, have questioned the behavior of the vaccine makers themselves.
- âI think we got some bad information all through the first two years of the virus. I think there was some wrong information given," Tuberville said.
The other side: "Modernaâs vaccines have protected the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world from COVID-19 and have dramatically lessened the burden of the pandemic to society," the company said in a statement last month.
- "Moderna remains committed to ensuring that people in the United States will have access to our COVID-19 vaccines regardless of ability to pay."
The bottom line: If you like watching pile-ons featuring both Bernie Sanders and Rand Paul, Wednesday's hearing will almost certainly be must-see TV for you.
â Thank you for reading Axios Pro Policy, and thanks to editors David Nather and Chuck McCutcheon and copy editor Brad Bonhall.
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