AG Ellison: Big Pharma lawsuit to block Alec Smith Act ‘telling Minnesotans their obscene profits come before our lives’

July 1, 2020 (SAINT PAUL)—Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued the following statement about the lawsuit Big Pharma filed today to block the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, which takes effect today.

“Today — the very day our law finally takes effect so that no Minnesotan needs to die because they can’t afford the astronomical cost of insulin — is the day that Big Pharma chooses to sue to block the law. Today — the very day that our state finally put Minnesotans’ lives ahead of drug companies’ profits — Big Pharma is telling Minnesotans that their obscene profits come before your lives.

“I’m outraged when I think of Alec Smith, the young man our law is named after, who died three years ago because he couldn’t afford his insulin. I’m outraged when I think of the years of effort that Alec’s mother Nicole Smith-Holt and so many other survivors and advocates put into passing the law. I’m outraged when I think that the inventor who discovered insulin a century ago sold the patent for $1 because he knew it would save lives — then Big Pharma pocketed billions in profits on it instead.

“It’s my job as Attorney General to defend this law in court. My office and I will defend it with every resource we have. I’m defending it on behalf of all Minnesotans who believe that no one should die because they can’t afford their insulin. I’m defending it on behalf of all Minnesotans who believe people’s lives are more important than drug companies’ profits.”