Will this be a half a loaf?
After months of deliberation, the Biden administration on Thursday asserted its authority to sidestep patents in order to lower costs for some pricey medicines that were discovered with taxpayer money. But the move, which must still be finalized by an inter-agency working group, is already causing uncertainty over the extent to which drugmakers may lose valuable monopolies and consumers will save money.
This reflects, in part, the seemingly contradictory approach the Biden administration has previously taken toward the highly controversial concept, as well as some open-ended language in the proposal. As a result, the effort is sowing a mix of fear and doubt as the pharmaceutical industry and patients and their supporters try to envision the eventual terms.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and networking platform access.
Already have an account? Log in
Already have an account? Log in
About the Author Reprints
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect