Generic Drug Groups See Giveaway to Brand Names in Spending Bill

Groups that advocate for easier development of generic drugs say the government spending bill making its way to President Donald Trump’s desk this week is a giveaway to branded drugmakers.

A provision of the spending bill (H.R. 1865) would expand the definition of a biologic drug to include “chemically synthesized polypeptides,” medicines such as Novo Nordisk’s Victoza.

Organizations including Public Citizen and the Association for Accessible Medicines warned Wednesday it gives these drugs the 12-year exclusivity period for biologics, not the five-year of exclusivity granted to small-molecule drugs. Substances that can enter cells easily because of low ...