Educational resource guide about pharmaceutical industry practices released

The educational resource, "The Value of Medicine, Improving Health... Improving Life," created by Lilly USA (NYSE: LLY), is now available at www.lillyforbetterhealth.com/value_of_medicine.jsp. The booklet supports Lilly's commitment to providing "Answers That Matter" and encourages an open dialogue with patients, providers, payers and the public about pharmaceutical industry practices.

"Today, Lilly and others in health care face tough questions about access to care, managing costs, drug safety and the best ways to fight disease," said David Ricks, president, Lilly USA. "Providing answers requires that we understand diverse perspectives, offer reliable information and keep the focus on what's best for patients. This booklet was created to build understanding between Lilly and its partners in the health care system as we pursue a shared goal of improving health outcomes for patients."

This is the fourth edition of the resource, which covers topics including:

• Medicine spending - Prescription medicines account for only 10 cents of every dollar spent on health care. In fact, many prescription medicines help reduce other health care costs.
• Access - Pharmaceutical companies are committed to making medicines accessible to patients in financial need. Through patient assistance programs in the United States, the industry provided medicines worth an estimated $14.5 billion and filled more than 115 million prescriptions for patients in need between 2005 and 2008.
• Importation - Purchasing medicines from other countries is illegal, risky and unsafe, and does not guarantee a cost savings for consumers.
• Value of medicine - Advances in medicine have helped to increase longevity. Medicines can lower overall treatment costs and help people avoid the disability and death caused by disease.
• Importance of innovation - Pharmaceutical companies invest more in research and development than other industries. The vast majority of new medicines are discovered and developed by the pharmaceutical industry, not the government.
• Marketing - The pharmaceutical industry spends much more searching for new medicines than it does on promoting those medicines already on the market. Research indicates that direct-to-consumer advertisements encourage dialogue between patients and health care providers, prompting many Americans to discuss their illnesses with health care providers for the first time or to do so earlier than they otherwise would have.