Drug Companies Threatening to Oppose Health Bill

[kpete]

Source: ABC News


Drug Companies Threatening to Oppose Health Bill
Drug firms threatening to end support for health overhaul in biotech drug dispute
By ALAN FRAM Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON January 15, 2010 (AP)
The Associated Press

The drug industry is threatening to end its support for President Barack Obama's health overhaul effort because of a rift with the administration over protecting brand-name biotech drugs from low-cost generic competitors.

In an e-mail obtained Friday by The Associated Press, the president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America told the trade group's board members that "we could not support the bill" if the industry is given less than 12 years of competitive protection for the expensive products.

Obama and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., are leading the drive to shorten that period, which proponents argue would be a boon to consumers.

"Please activate immediately all of your contacts," said the e-mail from Billy Tauzin, the group's president.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9575325

[Robb]

1. It's pistols at dawn, then. Metaphorically, of course. nt

[timeforpeace]

12. Should never have promised them 12 years. Especially if they knew they would renege.

[SharonAnn]

2. Oh good. If the deal with PhRMA is dead, can we re-import drugs fromCanada now?

[timeforpeace]

13. No change in the one thing that would really save US Rx consumers money.

[gateley]

3. Jesus, we've given them SO MUCH (as evidenced by the soaring stock prices) -

they're not willing to compromise on ANYthing! Disgusting.

[kimmerspixelated]

4. That's because they are truly evil.

They do not deserve to have everything handed to them with millions of lives/blood on their hands!

[timeforpeace]

14. Obama promised them 12 years. How does saying OK make them evil?

[Moosepoop]

16. Exactly when did Obama promise them 12 years?

My understanding is that the 12 year provision originally came from the House Energy & Commerce Committee approving an amendment by Rep. Anna Eshoo to the House bill at the end of July. Obama was pushing for a 7 year provision, right up until 2 days before the committee vote. The committee voted for the 12 year amendment anyway. The Senate used the same 12 year period of exclusivity in their bill.

The pharma companies may have been happy with and counting on the 12 year deal that the House and Senate had each incorporated into their bills up to this point, but it was NOT promised to them by Obama.

[GeorgeGist]

21. Greed Kills ...

phucktard.

[VanW]

6. That's the nature of capitulation

You give them an inch, they take a mile. Oldest story in the world.

[flyarm]

8. that is what you get when dealing with the devil!..eom

[beachmom]

5. Oh, for the love of God. Those guys are ridiculous.

They have already been given SO MUCH!

Sigh.

[midnight]

7. I read a post here today that links a pharma and biotech group who oppose

Americans getting better pricing via generic coming from Bush staffer Donald Rumsfeld... I wonder if this is the same group?

[IndianaGreen]

9. The Obama Administration chose to lay next to the dogs of Big Pharma

and now they caught fleas!

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Morning has come

And just like mama said would happen, they don't respect us.

[Faygo Kid]

11. 12 years is a joke. Seven is plenty.

They are as greedy as Goldman Sachs.

[DebbieCDC]

15. I guess they didn't get enough from their first time at the trough on this bill

Time for seconds piggies

And of course they'll get whatever they want. Gotta protect Big Pharma.

[bemildred]

17. Good, let's have a real political war over this.

I've had enough of these whining self-serving weasels threatening us if they don't get their way.

[David Zephyr]

18. What an total embarrassment this entire "health care" nonsense has turned out to be.

Unfuckingbelievable.

[KoKo]

19. "Garbage In..Garbage Out." They gotta' vote on garbage..n/t

[depakid]

20. Not too many better enemies to make if you want to win elections....

Banksters, health insurers, and food poisoners are about the only more "popular" ones out there at the moment.

[Tim01]

22. Obama will give the drug companies what they want, again.

And he will give a pretty speech explaining why it is the opposite of what it looks like.

[groundloop]

23. Did you not read the original post???

"Obama and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., are leading the drive to shorten that period, which proponents argue would be a boon to consumers."

It's a bit late for the drug makers to oppose anything, seems like the House and Senate are getting close to a deal... Oh wait, all they have to do is pay off Lie-berman. (Never Mind)

[jonathon]

24. It is obscene.

[SandWalker1984]

25. Can't have people paying $4 a month for generic when they can be forced to shell out big bucks...

...for the brand names.

Obviously, having realized how well the health insurance companies will make out under the "reform" bill, big Pharma wants a better deal from the White House than they carved out last summer.

:sarcasm:

[endless october]

26. fine.

start over with real reform.