Five Groups Express Concern Over Extending Biologic Competition Protection Under the TPP

In a recent letter, a group of physician, consumer, and employment groups urged President Obama to waive agreements that would lengthen data protections for biologic medicines in an expansive Asia-Pacific trade deal.

The five groups—the AARP, Doctors Without Borders, AFL-CIO, Oxfam and the Consumers Union—have concerns over reports that the Obama administration is working with the pharmaceutical industry and Republican lawmakers in Congress on a settlement that would extend monopoly protections for biologics beyond what’s included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

“We strongly urge you not to include language in the TPP implementing legislation committing the United States to 12 years of exclusivity or enter into side letters to extend the biologics exclusivity period for any TPP signatory country,” the groups wrote. 

The TPP requires at least five years of exclusivity along with additional protections that amount to about eight years. The standard in the United States is 12 years and lawmakers are pushing for the TPP to recognize that length of time. 

In the letter, each group voiced their own critiques of the TPP, but agreed that “no TPP commitment should be taken to worsen the plight of Americans already struggling to afford the high and growing prices of prescription drugs, as are millions of people around the world.”

The groups believe that the cost of the drugs can put treatments out of reach for those most in need of them, even when comprehensive health insurance is in place. According to the letter, biologics are the “future of pharmaceuticals” to treat diseases like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. 

“We ask you to stand by your previous support for reducing US market exclusivity to seven years for high cost biologic medicines,” the groups urged. —Chris Evangelista