Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Lower Drug Prices and Combat Patent Abuses

Statements from Key Sponsors

“Anti-competitive practices from companies abusing the patent system have caused Texans’ costs at the pharmacy counter to skyrocket,” stated Sen. Cornyn. “This long-overdue legislation would promote competition and lower prices for patients without standing in the way of innovation, and I urge my colleagues in the House to pass it as soon as possible.”

Sen. Blumenthal echoed these sentiments, highlighting the bill’s impact on reducing drug prices: “Our bipartisan, commonsense measure to crack down on Big Pharma’s shameless abuse of the patent system will protect competition and reduce prices at the pharmacy. Patients must be able to afford critical medicine, and I will continue fighting tooth and nail against Pharma’s anti-competitive practices that drive up costs for consumers.”

Background and Impact of the Legislation

The Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act targets practices like “patent thicketing,” where pharmaceutical companies file numerous secondary patents to block generic or biosimilar competitors from entering the market. This tactic has allowed companies like AbbVie to maintain monopoly pricing on drugs like Humira for extended periods by leveraging a web of over 250 patents.

By limiting the number of patents a manufacturer can assert, the bill seeks to dismantle these thickets and promote the entry of lower-cost biosimilars. Biosimilars, similar to generic drugs, offer more affordable alternatives to expensive biologics. The legislation aims to maintain the balance between encouraging innovation and preventing patent abuse that stifles competition and keeps drug prices high.

Broader Support and Future Steps

The bill received broad bipartisan support, with cosponsors including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

Despite not yet having a companion bill in the House, the Senate’s unanimous vote sends a strong signal of commitment to addressing drug pricing issues. Merith Basey, executive director of the nonprofit Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, praised the Senate’s action, urging the House to follow suit and ensure the bill’s passage this year.

The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing also applauded the vote, with executive director Lauren Aronson emphasizing the importance of bipartisan collaboration to finalize the legislation.

Conclusion

The passage of the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act marks a crucial step toward reducing prescription drug costs and curbing exploitative practices within the pharmaceutical industry. As the bill moves to the House, lawmakers and advocates remain hopeful for swift action to bring relief to patients burdened by high drug prices.

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