PhRMA Spent $22M Lobbying Congress In 2007

Main Category: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Also Included In: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 25 Feb 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in 2007 spent more than $22 million on efforts to lobby the federal government, about a 25% increase from the amount spent in 2006, according to disclosure records filed by the group last week, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports.

According to the records, PhRMA spent $12 million in the second half of 2007 to lobby against several proposals, such as a bill that would allow the federal government to negotiate prices directly with pharmaceutical companies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and legislation that would allow the purchase of lower-cost medications from Canada and other nations. Congress did not pass either of the bills. PhRMA in 2007 also lobbied against a patent reform bill, which remains under consideration in the Senate, and a prescription drug safety bill, which became law last September but did not include restrictions on direct-to-consumer advertisements opposed by the pharmaceutical industry.

Experts said that, although the increase in spending on efforts to lobby the federal government in 2007 appears to have "paid off on some key issues," the "road ahead for the industry looks increasingly bumpy," the AP/Chronicle reports. Massie Ritsch of the Center for Responsive Politics said, "This seems to be a case where the increase in lobbying activity is defensive, not offensive" (Perrone, AP/Houston Chronicle, 2/22).

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