PhRMA Statement on Federal Circuit Court Decision
On Price Control Law for Patented Prescription Medicines

Washington, D.C. (August 2, 2007) —Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Senior Vice President Ken Johnson issued the following statement today in response to the court decision against a price control law in Washington, D.C. :

"The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is a victory for patients. By ruling that federal patent law preempts the District of Columbia's price control law for patented prescription medicines, the court has preserved crucial incentives for continued discovery and creation of new medicines.

"The court noted that Congress itself has acknowledged the vital role of patent incentives in encouraging the world-leading innovation of America's pharmaceutical research companies.

"The court also recognized that America's patent system provides strong incentives for inventors -- including pharmaceutical and biotechnology research companies -- to invest the resources necessary to research and develop treatments that benefit patients and the public health. PhRMA member companies alone invested an estimated $43 billion to research and develop new medicines last year, while industry-wide research investment reached a record $55.2 billion in 2006."

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $43 billion in 2006 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $55.2 billion in 2006.
 

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The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $43 billion in 2006 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $55.2 billion in 2006.

PhRMA Internet Address: www.phrma.org

PhRMA en Español: www.nuestraphrma.org

For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: www.innovation.org

For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: www.pparx.org

For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: www.buysafedrugs.info