[Ip-health] Industry donates to Senators/Reps championing longer duration for biotech drug exclusivity

[Sarah Rimmington]

      Industry donates to Senators championing longer duration for
      biotech drug exclusivity.

_USA Today_
<http://mailview.custombriefings.com/mailview.aspx?m=2009072901dia&r=3294756-59e2&l=02b-a74&t=c> (7/29,
Schouten) reports, "Lawmakers who count pharmaceutical companies among
their biggest contributors lead the opposition to a healthcare proposal
that would cut costs by allowing generic drugs to compete sooner with
pricey biotechnology drugs, campaign-finance records show." Sen. Orrin
Hatch, who "has received nearly $1.3 million from the employees and
political action committees of drug and health products companies since
1989," has helped lead the Senate's efforts "to give drug companies 12
years of exclusive rights to sell biotech drugs, rather than seven as
proposed by President Obama." Meanwhile in the House, "Rep. Anna Eshoo
(D-CA), whose district is home to dozens of biotech companies, is
sponsoring a similar measure," and drug company employees and PACs "have
donated $645,000 since 1992 to Eshoo -- second only to the computer and
Internet industry."

        Pharmaceutical, senior lobbies clash over biologic patent
protections. In a separate story, _USA Today_
<http://mailview.custombriefings.com/mailview.aspx?m=2009072901dia&r=3294756-59e2&l=02c-bf7&t=c>(7/29,
Schouten) reports that "several lobbying powerhouses," including AARP,
the Biotechnology Industry Association, and Pharmaceutical Research and
Manufacturers of America, "are locked in a contentious fight over the
future of biotechnology drugs. Both sides have spent heavily to sway
lawmakers in the debate over how long to keep the expensive drugs exempt
from generic competition. President Obama is pushing for seven years of
exclusivity as he looks to trim costs to help pay for his healthcare
plan -- five years less than what the industry wants." USA Today adds
that the pharmaceutical industry says a 12-year exclusivity period is
necessary to recoup research investments.



--
Sarah Rimmington
Attorney
Essential Action, Access to Medicines Project
Washington, DC
Tel: +1 (202) 387-8030
Cell: +1 (202) 422-2687
www.essentialaction.org/access/