Sanders rips Biden for praising drug companies at fundraiser

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) criticized fellow Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden for praising drug companies at a fundraiser. 

Sanders asserted that he disagreed with Biden, saying the companies are “greedy, corrupt and engaged in price fixing,” in a statement obtained by The Hill.

“At a time when their behavior is literally killing people every day, America needs a president who isn’t going to appease and compliment drug companies — we need a president who will take on the pharmaceutical industry – whether they like it or not. When we defeat Donald Trump, that’s exactly what we are going to do,” the statement said.

The former vice president commended pharmaceutical drug companies in a fundraiser on Saturday, Bloomberg reported. 

“By the way, great drug companies out there — except a couple of opioid outfits,” Biden said at the event. 

Biden and Sanders went head-to-head, along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), during the Democratic debate Thursday when discussing their plans for health care. 

The former vice president has criticized Sanders’ “Medicare for All” plan for costing too much, while Sanders defended the plan saying it aligned with other health systems in other countries. Biden instead wants to reform the Affordable Care Act.

Sanders has advocated to decrease the power of drug companies with an aim at bringing down costs for patients.