Merck Is Again Being Outspent -- By Pfizer, At The Lobbyist Tables -- Through First Three Quarters Of 2025...

But in the election year last year, while Pfizer greatly reduced its spend -- Merck had eclipsed Pfizer. Now, the usual pattern is returning, with the larger (at about double Merck's total assets) Pfizer outspending Merck.

Tomorrow we will lay out what all Pfizer spent on, so far this year, but tonight we detail Merck's spending categories:

. . .H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill, issues related to health care; S. 1339, Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act; S. 2076, Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions To End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act of 2021

Issues relating to: 340B program integrity; 340B of the Public Health Services Act; 340B issues; 340B drug pricing program; Drug pricing; Drug pricing and reimbursement issues; Cost and value of medicines; Vaccine issues. . . .

Package inserts and e-labeling; Package inserts, labeling issues, and e-labeling authorization legislation; Pharmaceutical supply channel issues; Drug shortages issues; Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169), issues relating to drug pricing provisions; FY-2026 Budget and Appropriations Legislation; Budget reconciliation drug pricing provisions; Commerce Justice, Science, and related agencies appropriations legislation for 2026; Interior, Environment, and related agencies appropriations legislation for 2026; Intellectual property protection and trade issues; Animal Health Policy Issues; Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) & Funding for Electronic Animal Traceability; General pharmaceutical issues; Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP); Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) policy issues; Pharmacy Benefit Manager reforms; Food and Drug Administration issues; Public Health Issues; Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing. . . .

H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill, issues related to health care -- Issues relating to: Medicare; Medicare Part B and D drug pricing issues; 340B program integrity; 340B of the Public Health Services Act; 340B drug pricing program; Drug pricing; Medicaid drug rebate program; Cost and value of medicines: Drug pricing and reimbursement issues; FY-2026 Budget and Appropriations Legislation; Medicaid drug rebate program (MDRP). . . .

Issues relating to: Tax reform and tax policy, generally; Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169), provisions relating to budget reconciliation and taxes. . . .

Issues relating to: S. 1163, Rural Veterinary Workforce Act -- Agriculture; Animal Health Technology; Animal Health Policy Issues; Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) & Funding for Electronic Animal Traceability; Rural development; Administration and related agencies appropriations bill, FY-26. . . .

Now you know -- that's back to power alley stuff through mid-morning tomorrow at least (we shall have to see -- if the firehose of Washington DC news will abate long enough to get some coverage of Amgen, and Lilly -- and at the mid-tier level, Baxter and Abbott). Onward, as Senate voting is getting underway. Smile -- baby-girl on a plane out of the Apple in the morning. Whew!

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