SENATE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES REVERSE-PAYMENTS BILL
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Sen. Herb Kohl's (D-Wis.) reverse-payment legislation -- bringing the prohibition of that practice a step closer to becoming law.
The "Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act," S.316, co-sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), explicitly prohibits brand manufacturers from paying generic companies to delay launching generic versions of their drugs.
"I believe today's vote shows that many of my colleagues agree that these settlements are anticompetitive and that brand and generic companies are abusing this practice," Kohl said. "Our solution is very simple: make these anti-consumer patent settlements illegal."
While the committee approved the bill with no amendments last Thursday, Kohl's staff said he may be open to compromise if the need arises.
"It is our intention to get the bill moving as quick as possible, so if that means compromise, that may be considered," Kohl spokesman Joe Bonfiglio said.
Drug industry representatives presented their views on the effects of reverse-payment deals before the committee at a hearing last month on the bill.
The bill will now be sent to the full Senate for consideration.