DRUG COMPANY'S ATTEMPTS TO EXTEND PATENT WILL HARM CONSUMERS

Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, released the following statement at a press conference regarding Bristol-Myers Squibb's attempts to amend the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, H.R. 2887.

"The high-priced lobbying efforts of Bristol-Myers Squibb to secure a three and one-half year patent extension for Glucophage will cause significant harm to America's consumers.

"Today, Glucophage is the ninth best-selling drug to seniors, but it only accounts for one percent of prescriptions written for children. Despite the extremely low sales volume to children, Bristol-Myers Squibb's decision to undertake pediatric testing gave the drug company a one-half year patent extension and, because that testing showed that Glucophage could benefit children, it now seeks an additional three-year exclusive marketing extension. Such an extension will cause enormous harm to seniors and others dependent on the drug.

"Bristol-Myers Squibb's lobbying efforts, if successful, adds insult to injury. Many consumers will be hurt by H.R. 2887's continued half-year extension of patent protections for pediatric testing that, we believe, should be part of any approval of a drug. However, the three-year extension sought by Bristol-Myers Squibb would make the bill even more harmful and costly to consumers.

"The pharmaceutical company stands to make billions of dollars at the expense of consumers, especially senior citizens. Last year, sales of Glucophage totaled $1.7 billion. In that same year, the price of Glucophage rose nearly six times the rate of inflation. There are numerous drug companies prepared to market a generic version of Glucophage that would cause the drug to drop in price very significantly.

"Since a year's supply of Glucophage, 500 milligram tablets, costs $817, generic competition is needed quickly to make the drug more affordable. Prescription drug prices are a major factor driving up health care costs for consumers and employers. This is not the time to pass legislation that delays generics from entering the market."     

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

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202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org