Groups warn of drug price increases with patent legislation

Groups representing patients, civic, health and faith communities signed a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee urging a NO vote on two bills – PREVAIL and PERA. The organizations expressed concern about the anticipated impact these bills would have on the cost of prescription drugs.

Important steps to address high drug prices were made by Congress to drive down costs for the Medicare program and protect Medicare beneficiaries from some of the highest prices in prescription drugs. The groups are concerned the Senate Judiciary Committee is taking up bills that could take us several steps back in drug pricing reform.

Whether it is in the halls of Congress and in our own communities, high drug prices are a concern that crosses party lines and all demographics. The groups urge the Committee to not spend time on legislation, like PERA and PREVAIL, that only exacerbate the problem that consumers and patients have in accessing the medicines they need.

The bills are up for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday September 26, 2024.

As the letter states:

We welcome an opportunity to work together to reform the patent system so patent gaming will no longer be used to block competitors. Congress should not create new policies (such as PERA and PREVAIL) that make it easier for drug companies to eliminate competitors by expanding what can be patented and by eliminating less costly and swifter ways to challenge the validity of a patent.