Committee Advances Senator Hassan Bills to Lower Prescription Drug Costs

WASHINGTON – The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted to advance two bipartisan bills led by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) that would lower prescription drug costs by removing barriers to generic competition. “For too long, Big Pharma has been abusing the patent process to block generic competition and keep drug prices for patients artificially high,” said Senator Hassan. “My bipartisan bills crack down on Big Pharma and make it easier for families to access lower-cost generic medications. I am pleased to see these important measures advance with strong bipartisan support, and I will continue working to bring down prescription drug costs for families across New Hampshire and the country.” The HELP Committee voted to pass the Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act , bipartisan legislation led by Senators Hassan and Josh Hawley (R-MO) to lower prescription drug costs by closing oversight gaps that drug manufacturers take advantage of to prevent lower-cost competition. Because of incomplete coordination between the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, drug manufacturers are currently able to unfairly extend the exclusivity period for a drug by submitting partial information for their initial patent and then applying for additional patents later. This increases the length of time during which the new drug is protected from competition, known as the exclusivity period, thus delaying the availability of lower-cost alternatives. The bill would require manufacturers to certify that they have not made inconsistent statements to the two agencies, helping to stop abuses of the patent system and save money for both patients and taxpayers. In addition, the Committee voted to advance the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act , bipartisan legislation which Senator Hassan leads to increase competition within the biological drug market by increasing access to low-cost generic equivalents to biologic drugs. Senator Hassan also voted to advance the bipartisan Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act, which is led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and would cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for Americans on private and employer insurance. ###