Pharmaceutical Processing World

  • Home
  • Regulatory
    • Recalls
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Facility
  • Supply Chain
  • Equipment and Materials
  • Contract Manufacturing
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Generic Pharma Group Spent $679,260 on First Quarter Lobbying

By Pharmaceutical Processing | May 28, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) — The Generic Pharmaceutical Association spent $679,260 in the first quarter as it lobbied the government on health care reform, generic versions of biotech drugs, and Medicare and Medicaid issues, according to a recent disclosure report.

The spending was up 27 percent from the $535,563 the group spent on lobbying in the first quarter of 2009 and 20 percent more than the $564,518 it spent in the fourth quarter last year.

GPhA represents more than 60 companies that make generic drugs, or low-cost versions of brand-name products. For the last few years, the group had tried to get the government to create a way for regulators to approve generic versions of biologic drugs. The health care reform law established that pathway.

However the law also grants 12 years of marketing exclusivity to the company that makes the name-brand version of a biotech drug. That was close to what the makers of those drugs had asked for, while GPhA had asked for an exclusivity period of five years.

The group that represents major drugmakers, called PhRMA, recently reported it spent $7 million lobbying the federal government in the first quarter.

GPhA also discussed budget issues, authorized versions of generic drugs, drug importation and prices, Medicaid rates and reimbursement, a proposal to expand rebates for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, funding for the Food and Drug Administration and the Office of Generic Drugs, and trade agreements.

It also lobbied on patent issues, including patent reform, extensions, and settlements of legal disputes, and extensions. Patents are a key issue for the industry because generic drugmakers often challenge the patents on drugs with the intent of proving the patents are not valid, which allows them to start selling their versions before the patents expire. The companies often settle those challenges in arrangements that let the generic drugmaker sell its version before patent protection runs out. That practice has drawn some scrutiny from regulators.

GPhA did its lobbying with Congress, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Congressional Budget Office, the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the White House Office, Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Trade Representative. It disclosed its activities in a form filed April 20 with the House clerk’s office.

 

Related Articles Read More >

This is a photo of the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies plant under construction in Holly Springs, North Carolina.
Fujifilm, Regeneron ink $3B U.S. manufacturing agreement
This is the logo of Johnson & Johnson.
J&J breaks ground on $2B manufacturing facility in North Carolina
sherwin-williams-pharma-facility (1)
Sherwin-Williams expands flooring solutions for pharma facilities
PHARMAP 2025: Pharma leaders converge in Berlin for fifth anniversary summit
“ppw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news, technologies, and developments in Pharmaceutical Processing.

DeviceTalks Tuesdays

DeviceTalks Tuesdays

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Pharmaceutical Processing World
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • DeviceTalks
  • MassDevice
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • MEDICAL TUBING + EXTRUSION
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medtech100 Index
  • R&D 100 Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Pharmaceutical Processing World

  • Home
  • Regulatory
    • Recalls
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Facility
  • Supply Chain
  • Equipment and Materials
  • Contract Manufacturing
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE