tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774010.post5620096611690807828..comments2024-01-25T17:58:34.297-05:00Comments on Scott's Web Log: Mixed Results on Bill to Enable Generic BiopharmaceuticalsScott Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286529314567223617noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774010.post-23621304654585168702007-06-26T13:03:00.000-04:002007-06-26T13:03:00.000-04:00I have no problem with the legislation regarding t...I have no problem with the legislation regarding testing, because as it stands now, the bill would enable the FDA to specify on a case-by-case basis what clinical trials would be required. But I'm not convinced that offering drug companies further protection from generics will yield anything other than higher prices.<BR/><BR/>Using the 1984 "Drug Price Competition and Patent Restoration Act" (better known as the "Hatch-Waxman Act"), which governs small-molecule (chemical) drugs as an example, there is already evidence that HUGE profits can be derived from a limited period of exclusivity.<BR/><BR/>Plus, there is no evidence that by giving drug makers longer protection from generics they will necessarily do anything other than give this largesse to shareholders. The drug pipelines for most large pharmaceutical companies (other than Bristol-Myers Squibb) are looking pretty bare these days, and that's largely due to declining research investments. In fact, Pfizer now spends more money on marketing than it does on research!! If we think that biopharmaceutical companies are going to behave any differently from small-molecule drug companies, I think we're all going to end up very disappointed!Scott Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03286529314567223617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774010.post-61434205019325168532007-06-26T12:48:00.000-04:002007-06-26T12:48:00.000-04:00I certaintly agree with you on doctor's having to ...I certaintly agree with you on doctor's having to approve a generic and agree with the drug companies on pushing for human testing of generics - I really have no desire to have high blood sugars b/c the generic company altered the compound.<BR/><BR/>However, offering the drug companies further protection against generics may actually help diabetics. By giving a longer period of protection against generic and copies the drug companies are offered less competition and thus encouraged to come out with new drugs. If the copy infringement period was only a year or two, R&D might really suffer.Wingmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00867789638868481704noreply@blogger.com