Why it matters: Bristol-Myers Squibb added McManus Group as a new lobbying firm in July 2024, expanding its already extensive Washington presence with specialized congressional health policy expertise. The pharmaceutical giant has maintained continuous lobbying operations since 2002 but is now bringing on John E. McManus, former Staff Director for the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, as Congress intensifies scrutiny on drug pricing and pharmaceutical industry practices.

By the numbers: BMS has historically employed over 20 different lobbying firms since 2002, including major players like Patton Boggs LLP, Crossroads Strategies LLC, and Tiber Creek Group Inc. The McManus Group registration lists only John E. McManus as the lobbyist on the team. McManus brings direct congressional experience from his tenure as Staff Director for the Health Subcommittee during the 106th-108th Congresses and has represented numerous pharmaceutical companies including Amgen, Eli Lilly, GSK, and Merck on similar issues.

The agenda: The registration doesn’t specify particular legislation or issues BMS plans to lobby on through McManus Group. However, the company has historically focused on health issues, Medicare/Medicaid policy, taxation, intellectual property, and FDA regulation. McManus’s client history shows expertise in drug pricing, reimbursement policies, comparative effectiveness research, and the 340B drug pricing program.

Between the lines: Congress is actively targeting pharmaceutical industry practices with multiple bills addressing drug pricing transparency, supply chain security, and competitive practices. Key legislation includes the Prescription Pricing for the People Act, Prescription Drug Price Relief Act, and measures targeting pharmacy benefit managers. Recent hearings have focused on domestic manufacturing, biosimilar competition, and PBM practices, while lawmakers publicly criticize “big corporations” for “jacking up drug prices.”

The bottom line: McManus’s addition gives BMS specialized access to congressional health policy decision-making as the industry faces increased regulatory pressure. His committee staff experience and pharmaceutical lobbying background provide tactical advantages in navigating complex legislation around drug pricing and Medicare policy that could significantly impact BMS’s business model.

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