Drugmakers Resist FTC, Lawmaker Efforts to Remove Patents (1)

Major pharmaceutical companies are resisting calls from the Biden administration and Democratic lawmakers to curb patenting practices on high-cost drugs, putting pressure on the federal government to take further action.

Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk A/S, and GlaxoSmithKline PLC are among the manufacturers that have declined requests to remove listings from a government drug patent registry that lawmakers and others say are driving up drug costs and blocking competition.

The Federal Trade Commission sent letters to companies warning them about over 300 “junk,” or improperly listed, patents for blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Saxenda, though drugmakers appear poised to ...