U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently introduced legislation that will crack down on drug companies’ patent abuse, specifically patent thickets. A companion bill in the House of Representatives was introduced by U.S. Representatives Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), August Pfluger (R-TX-11), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Darrell Issa (R-CA-48), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07).
A recent article in Axios highlighted how Big Pharma’s patent abuse has evoked bipartisanship in Congress:
“An unusual bipartisan coalition of lawmakers is teaming up on drug pricing legislation, proving the issue may defy election-year partisanship as health care costs remain a top voter concern… Some of the most liberal Democrats in Congress and the House GOP’s lead budget writer are backing a plan to keep drugmakers from gaming the patent system.”
The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) released a statement in support of the bill, saying:
“We applaud and support the bipartisan, bicameral legislation to crack down on drug companies’ patent abuse. For far too long, drug companies have engaged in anti-competitive tactics that keep more affordable alternatives, such as generics and biosimilars, off the market so that they can extend their product monopolies to boost profits.
“Addressing the anti-competitive tactics egregiously and commonly used by drug companies is by far the most sure-fire way to actually reduce prescription drug costs for patients and employers.
“Make no mistake, PBMs are strong proponents of a functioning biosimilar market and are committed to removing barriers to patient and provider uptake. Bringing more biosimilars to market, over time, will allow PBMs to more effectively leverage competition to reduce drug costs for health plan sponsors and patients. More competition for biologic drugs will provide added choice and flexibility for health plan sponsors, while also considering physician and patient choice. Simply put, a more competitive marketplace for biologic medications will mean lower overall prescription drug costs and better health outcomes.”
See PCMA’s full statement on the new patent thicket bill HERE.
Big Pharma’s anti-competitive practices are the root cause of high prices – and to lower prices for patients, lawmakers should focus their attention there, not on pharma-backed policies that would boost drug company profits and help them keep prices high.
__________________________________
Read about how one of the Big Pharma-backed proposals would help them boost their own profits by $32 billion annually HERE.
Learn more about the role and value of pharmacy benefit companies and how Big Pharma’s practices lead to high drug prices HERE.
###
PCMA is the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit companies. Pharmacy benefit companies are working every day to secure savings, enable better health outcomes, and support access to quality prescription drug coverage for more than 275 million patients. Learn more at www.pcmanet.org
