GENERIC DRUG LEADERS PRAISE BILL TO END ABUSIVE PRACTICES

Senate efforts to crack down on the abuse of citizen petitions to delay genericdrug competition drew acclaim from industry leaders in Washington. The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) hailed Senate passage of the FDA?s Revitalization Act as "a step in the right direction for providing consumers with greater access to safe and affordable generic medicines."

A key provision of that legislation is designed to end misuse of the citizen-petition process by branded drug manufacturers hoping to insulate themselves from generic competition. The bill passed by the Senate also includes an agreement to continue working on biogenerics legislation before the act goes to conference with the House of Representatives.

"As health care costs continue to escalate, Congress is looking for ways to ensure the delivery of safe and affordable care, and they are finding that generics are the answer," GPhA president and chief executive officer Kathleen Jaeger said. "The Senate took some very important steps forward with this legislation."