The news: The US pharma industry’s reputation dropped among patient groups this year. Over half (53%) rated the pharma sector as excellent or good, down eight percentage points year over year, according to PatientView’s annual global study.

Why it matters: Public support of the US pharma industry is rare. Just 28% of US consumers view the pharma industry very (11%) or somewhat (17%) positively, according to Gallup’s 2025 annual survey of US industry reputation.

However, patient groups and advocates are long-time allies of the industry. Higher levels of support among these groups is driven by collaboration—across clinical trials, patient support programs, and marketing—and by industry funding. More than half of patient advocacy organizations receive funding from life sciences companies, per an HHS report last year.

But as some pharma companies pulled back support this year, so did perception among their longtime allies. Those that reduced funding and engagement got worse ratings from patient groups and advocates this year, while pharmas that held steady on their investments saw stronger rankings, per PatientView. Patient perceptions of pharma innovation, products that benefit patients, and access to medicine each fell three percentage points—the largest declines among the 14 attributes measured.

Implications for pharma companies: Pulling back on patient group funding and engagement risks weakening a key pharma relationship that supports broader trust and reputation. Patient groups are not just another stakeholder group—they influence pharma perceptions with consumers, doctors, and regulators. The ratings decline among companies that reduced financial and operational support suggest its not just goodwill spending and engagement, but that these relationships need consistent investment to maintain standing.

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