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news.Four major drug makers spent around $6 million on lobbying in the second quarter of 2008. Most of their lobbying efforts were focused on the Medicare drug benefit program and the legislation that would allow the FDA to approve generic biotech drugs, reported the Associated Press.
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Biotech company Amgen spent approximately $2.9 million on lobbying on the implementation of the Medicare drug benefit for seniors, reforming the US patent system and also to prevent FDA from approving generic versions of biotech drugs.
Bristol-Myers Squibb spent $830,000 on lobbying on various drug and patent issues. The company also lobbied on the bill that would ban the use of bisphenol-A, a chemical used in children’s food packaging. It also lobbied on legislation that would allow generic drug companies to sell cheaper copies of biotech drugs. Apart from the US Congress, the company also lobbied the Commerce Department and Patent and Trademark Office.
The UK drug maker AstraZeneca spent around $1.3 million lobbying on the intellectual property and trade issues affecting pharmaceuticals, the Medicare prescription drug benefit, the importation of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and other foreign countries and increased funding for the FDA.
Apart from the US Congress, the company also lobbied the departments of Treasury, and Health and Human Services, as well as the US Trade Representative’s office.
Abbott also invested around $1 million on lobbying for the reformation of US patent system, Medicare drug benefit and for increased funding for AIDS-awareness programs.