Drug Patent, Pricing Bills Approved by Senate Committee (1)

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a slate of bipartisan bills aimed at lowering drug prices by curbing certain patent-related tactics used by pharmaceutical companies to delay cheaper generics and biosimilars.

The legislation considered at Thursday’s markup included measures to block “product hopping,” boost oversight of pharmacy benefit managers, and outlaw tactics that delay generic drug approvals. Proponents say the bills respond to escalating concerns that brand-name drugmakers are exploiting the US patent and regulatory systems to extend market monopolies and raise prices.

The committee, chaired by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), advanced all six of the bills by voice vote. The ...