U.S. challenges drug's 'bogus' patent

[New Sancai Compilation First Release] U.S. federal regulators are questioning the patents of 20 brand-name drugs, including the best-selling weight loss injection Ozempic, the latest action by the Biden administration to target industry practices that drive up drug prices.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued warning letters to 10 drug manufacturers on April 30, challenging patents on popular drugs that treat weight loss, diabetes, asthma and other diseases. The letters allege that certain patent applications filed by Novo Nordisk, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and seven other companies were inaccurate or misleading.

Brand-name drugmakers use patents to protect their drugs and ward off cheaper generic versions. Most blockbuster drugs are protected by dozens of patents covering various ingredients, manufacturing processes and intellectual property rights. If the patent expires or is successfully challenged in court, generic drug manufacturers can only launch their own cheaper versions.

"Drug companies are blocking competition and driving up the cost of prescription drugs by filing false patent listings, forcing Americans to pay sky-high prices for the drugs they rely on," FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan said in a statement.

Ozempic is part of a class of drugs that were originally developed to treat diabetes but were recently approved to treat obesity, leading to a surge in prescriptions. Medicare spending on these drugs has also increased significantly in recent years.

The FTC's latest announcement follows similar action in September 2023, when regulators targeted drugmakers including Abbvie, AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim More than 100 patents have been challenged.

According to the FTC, companies that receive these letters have 30 days to withdraw or update their patent listings or "demonstrate their legality under penalty of perjury." The patents are registered with the Food and Drug Administration, which reviews and approves new drugs.

The patent challenge is part of President Joe Biden's strategy to lower drug prices, including allowing Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers and allowing states like Florida to import cheaper drugs from other countries.

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)