WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators are challenging patents on 20 brand name drugs, including the blockbuster weight-loss injection Ozempic, in the latest action by the Biden administration targeting industry practices that drive up pharmaceutical prices. The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday sent warning letters to 10 drugmakers, taking issue with patents on popular drugs for weight loss, diabetes, asthma and other reparatory conditions. The letters allege that certain patents filed by Novo Nordisk, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and seven other companies are inaccurate or misleading. Brand-name drugmakers use patents to protect their medicines and stave off cheaper, generic medicines. Most blockbuster drugs are protected by dozens of patents covering various ingredients, manufacturing processes and intellectual property. Generic drugmakers can only launch their own cheaper versions if the patents have expired or are successfully challenged in court. |
Israel raids main Gaza hospital as Rafah concerns growNew law to give police, courts greater powers in gang crackdown'Challenging few years for some'Do cheese and onions belong in a hot cross bun?'Challenging few years for some'Government takes 'first steps' to speed up consent processKiwiRail in talks to cancel contracts for new Interislander ferriesShayne Carter: ‘Art has always been completely undervalued’Sinead O'Connor died of natural causes, London coroner saysGovernment confirms leaked document was a ministry Treaty Principles bill memo