CSRxP STATEMENT ON SENATE JUDICIARY MARKUP OF THE PREVAIL ACT

Congress Should Not Further Consider Misguided Proposal That Would Enable More Big Pharma Patent Abuse That Keeps Drug Prices High

Washington, D.C. – The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing (CSRxP) released a statement Thursday following the passage of S. 2220, The Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership Act (PREVAIL Act) by the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

“The PREVAIL Act would further enable Big Pharma’s patent abuse that extends monopolies and blocks competition from more affordable alternatives for patients,” said CSRxP executive director Lauren Aronson. “This misguided proposal would undermine recent bipartisan progress toward cracking down on Big Pharma’s anti-competitive practices that are the root cause of high drug prices in America and should not be further considered by Congress.”

“CSRxP encourages lawmakers to reject the pharmaceutical industry’s false rhetoric on innovation that is meant to keep prescription drug prices high,” Aronson continued. “Congress should focus on advancing market-based solutions to lower drug prices by fostering greater competition in the market and holding Big Pharma accountable for their egregious anti-competitive tactics.”

S. 2220, The Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership Act (PREVAIL Act) would undermine the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) capacity to review patentability claims, weaken the inter partes review process and strengthen brand name pharmaceutical companies’ ability to extend monopoly protections. The PREVAIL Act would inevitably result in patients paying the high cost of brand name prescription drugs for longer than even occurs today. Read CSRxP’s full letter of opposition on S.2220 HERE.

Read more on how Big Pharma’s patent abuse is the root cause of high prescription drug prices HERE.

Read more on bipartisan, market-based solutions to hold Big Pharma accountable HERE.

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